A BRAVE eight-year-old recovering from leukaemia launched Scotland’s biggest race for cancer research today.
Freya Pennington, who turns eight on Tuesday, from Giffnock, was chosen as VIP to kick off the first Cancer Research UK Race for Life in Glasgow in three years.
She and her big sister Eliza, nine, sounded the start horn at Glasgow Green on Sunday, May 22, to send thousands of participants on the 3k and 5k courses.
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It was a special moment for Freya who received a Cancer Research UK Children & Young People star award in recognition of her courage after being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on November 5, 2020.
The race raised almost half a million pounds for life saving research.
And Freya’s parents, Louise, 39, and Adam Pennington,43, know exactly why raising funds to give others more tomorrows is vital.
Their daughter had 10 blood transfusions, chemotherapy and endured dozens of medical procedures during months of treatment at Glasgow Children’s hospital.
Covid restrictions meant for weeks she was unable to play with her sister Eliza or brother Harris, two, and could only wave to her siblings from a hospital window.
Freya even had to learn to walk again after the side effects of treatment took their toll.
But she’s now in remission, back at school at Braidbar Primary and her three years of treatment will end in March 2023.
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Louise said: “Freya is an incredible wee girl.
“It’s an emotional day for any parent when they celebrate their child’s birthday but we couldn’t be prouder of Freya.
“It’s an emotional day for any parent when they celebrate their child’s birthday but we couldn’t be prouder of Freya.
“She’s been through so much. I remember 90 per cent of her cells were leukaemia cells when she was first admitted to hospital.
"Her red blood cell and platelet count crashed that night and she needed a blood transfusion to make her strong enough to start her first dose of chemotherapy.
"We couldn’t believe how rapidly she had become very unwell and that this was the same girl who had actually been at school that morning.
"She hadn’t been well for a couple of weeks prior to this with a cough and a sore knee. But we would never have thought she had cancer.
“It was a frightening time but everyone from the nurses to the doctors, the cleaners to the physiotherapists on the Schiehallion ward were angels in disguise, just wonderful."
“It’s brilliant to see Freya so well. She’s on what’s known as maintenance treatment but is loving school and adores her teacher.
"I wouldn’t be surprised if she might want to be a doctor or nurse when she grows up so she can one day help other people.”
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