An inspirational eight-year-old Harefield girl, who named her tumour Boris, needs £120,000 for cancer treatment in America.
Jessica Shepherd has captured the hearts of her community, who hope to help raise the sum with a special fundraiser called 'Jess's Disney Day'.
Jess was first diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer, neuroblastoma, aged just three years old, and then went into remission spontaneously.
When the cancer returned at the end of 2013, Jess said she named her tumour Boring Boris, explaining this was because it "won't go away and keeps coming back”.
The brave youngster underwent chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and retinoic acid, for a whole year so her family thought she had gone into remission.
Unfortunately, 'Boris' had withstood all the treatment and came back in February 2015 so Jess recommenced treatment.
Now, with the return of her cancer for a fourth time, although Jess has been accepted at the Royal Marsden Hospital for trial treatment, doctors have told her that when she is in remission, she will have to go to America for follow up injections – costing a staggering £120,000.
'She's an inspiration'
Jess's story struck a chord with family friend and fellow Harefield resident, Teresa King, who hopes to raise money by taking part in the Disney Day.
She said: “She’s just an amazing child. She’s eight now and has been through five years of hell, she’s just pulled out the other end and kept going.
“I wanted to do what I could for her, so we just put our heads together and thought we’d try this.”
Teresa sadly lost her brother, Stephen, aged 10 – after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma aged three and a half.
The 27-year-old said: “I wanted to get involved as I couldn’t see another child go through what my brother went through.
“He wasn’t given the opportunity to do something like this as it wasn’t around then. I know the village are helping as much as they can - they were so good to us and I want to give back to them too.
“He was the bravest strongest person I know and now Jess is proving to be as strong and she’s just an inspiration.”
Teresa, alongside pal Kerry-Ann Mullins-Haughan, will join the half marathon around Harefield, where participants must be dressed up as princes and princesses.
She said: “We’ve done sponsor forms for adults who want to do the whole half marathon and they are available for children to do per lap.
“At the end of each lap, there’ll be a mini game and we’re also doing a quiz and a disco, an adult disco in the evening.
“We’ve got a bake sale and a decorate your own cupcake and photo booth. Everyone keeps coming out the woodwork and wanting to do something. It’s just lovely.”
Jess' Disney Day details
Jess's Disney Day will be from 10am-4pm on Saturday, May 21.
Entry to the Half Marathon is £2 for children and £3 for adults. Entry to the quiz and disco at The Harefield, High Street at 6.30pm is £5 per person.
If you'd like to support Teresa's fundraising efforts, visit her crowdfunding page join the Facebook group on the Half Marathon for more information.
You can also keep up to date with Jess' fight on her Jess's Story Facebook page.
