On Wednesday 29 November, 10-year-old cancer survivor and aspiring figure skater, Georgia Hillman from Dundee, Scotland, showed just how talented she is by performing on the Natural History Museum Ice Rink, London, with former Dancing on Ice Star, Frankie Seaman.
Georgia, from Dundee, glided beautifully on the ice, spun to festive songs and showed Frankie how far she has come since being diagnosed with cancer just before her first birthday. As a Star Award winner herself, the experience was organised to mark the launch of this year’s Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards which celebrate the strength and courage shown by children and young people who have been affected by cancer. All winners receive a unique trophy, a £50 TK Maxx gift card, a t-shirt, and a certificate signed by celebrities supporting the campaign.
Just after her first birthday, Georgia was diagnosed with a type of kidney cancer, called Wilms’ tumour. Scans showed that the tumour in Georgia’s stomach was the size of a football but after having chemotherapy it shrank rapidly which allowed doctors to operate and remove the tumour. Georgia then went on to have seven months of chemotherapy, and thankfully, is now doing really well. She is now a successful figure skater, competing at a national level.
Ruth, Georgia’s mum, said: “Hearing that my baby had cancer was something I never expected. It was the most terrifying few years of our lives, but we got through it and she has gone from strength to strength ever since. We are so proud of her, she has achieved so much.
“Ice skating is a huge passion for Georgia – she puts her all into it. It’s a hobby that lets her run free which is amazing after everything she’s been through. Watching her perform with Frankie today at the Natural History Museum Ice Rink is a memory I’ll never forget. We treasure moments like these, and never take them for granted.”
British figure skating champion, Frankie Seaman, said: “Georgia is amazing, she’s so talented, and it has been a breath of fresh air skating with her today. She went through so much at such a young age but hasn’t let that stop her following her dream of becoming such an amazing skater. Her skill and technique is fantastic, it was an honour to meet her – she gets a 10 out of 10 from me!”
Georgia, said: “Dancing on the ice with Frankie at the Natural History Museum today was magical and made me even more excited for Christmas! Frankie’s moves were amazing and one day I hope I will be as good as her. Receiving a Star Award inspired me – I look back at what I’ve been through and it’s only made me stronger and more determined.”
TK Maxx has been supporting Cancer Research UK since 2004, and is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s research into children’s cancers. Since the partnership began, TK Maxx has raised £32 million through stock and cash donations. Of that total, £28 million contributes to pioneering research into new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer, with a further £4 million supporting general cancer research.
Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens is calling on families and friends of young cancer patients and survivors from across the UK to nominate them to receive a Star Award. To find out more, and to submit a nomination, visit the Kids & Teens page.
ENDS
About Cancer Research UK’s Kids & Teens
- Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research.
- Around 8 in 10 young people (0-24) diagnosed with cancer in the UK now survive their disease for at least five years
- Around 4,200 young people (0-24) are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK – that’s around 11 young people every day
- Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens’ vision is to find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer.
- Cancer Research UK receives no funding from the UK government for its life-saving research. Every step it makes towards beating children’s cancers relies on every donation made.
- Cancer Research UK supports research into all aspects of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
- Money raised through Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens will be ring-fenced to fund research into cancers affecting children and young people (aged 0-24). Donations will help find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer.
About TK Maxx
- TK Maxx is Europe’s leading off-price apparel and homeware retailer selling a huge assortment of designer labels, top brands, up-and-coming labels, stylish fashion and one-off gems, at up to 60% less than the RRP or at a significant discount to the price you’d pay at a traditional department store or on the high street.
- TK Maxx launched in the UK in 1994 and now has over 300 stores across the country.
- Opportunistic buying and a no frills operation means TK Maxx can pass huge savings onto the customer.
- Regular deliveries through the week which bring up to 10,000 new items to the store. You can also buy online at www.tkmaxx.com.
- Follow TK Maxx on Twitter @TKMaxx_UK and Instagram; become a TK Maxx fan on Facebook.
- TK Maxx is part of TJX Europe, the European subsidiary of the US group The TJX Companies, Inc.
About TK Maxx supporting Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens:
- TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s research into children’s cancers and is the official retail partner of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens
- TK Maxx’s support of the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens Star Awards is part of a year-round fundraising partnership which includes their clothes collection campaign, Give Up Clothes for Good which takes place again in February 2018
- The clothes are then sold at Cancer Research UK shops to raise funds for Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens
- The Give Up Clothes for Good campaign runs all year round and collection boxes will be available in all TK Maxx stores
- If each UK household donated one bag of clothes, it could save 25 million bags from landfill and raise over £750 million for charity
