CANCER battler Hannah Roberts has taken another major step towards buying a waterside lodge for other young people hit by the disease.
Hannah, who was given 14 months to live in 2022, has already raised £170,000 towards a target of £203,000 to provide the lodge at Mercia Marina in Derbyshire.
Hannah, 21, wants to create a sanctuary for teenagers and young adults who are under the care of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
She was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM4) in 2022 aged 19 and spent one-and-a-half years under the care of the teenage cancer ward at Nottingham City Hospital, with surgeries at Nottingham QMC.
Her mum, Gail Iredale, said: “It has been a hell of a journey, but we are now in month 27 and are pleased to say that Hannah has received a stable scan.
“Our commitment to this fundraising mission comes from sheer desperation and knowing what other families are going through. The physical and mental strain of such a diagnosis makes us determined to make a difference to those under the care of the Teenage Cancer Trust.”
Hannah’s lodge will provide families with the chance to reconnect amid the natural beauty and tranquillity of the South Derbyshire countryside.
A stream of fundraising projects under the charity name, Hannah’s Hope, has resulted in the current total.
In September Hannah, Gail and Gail’s husband Wayne opened a successful boutique shop at Mercia Marina, selling high quality, donated, new and nearly new items. It became the charity HQ but will close in February as the space donated by the marina is set for redevelopment. It raised £50,000 in a few months.
Robert Neff, general manager at Mercia Marina, said: “I’m delighted that Gail, Hannah and Wayne have been able to make use of the unit for their fundraising purposes and that the shop has been such a success. Their story and Hannah’s mission are both heartbreaking and inspirational.
“While the unit is now due to be demolished, I know that their dedication and hard work will make the dream of the Mercia Marina respite lodge a reality.”
Hannah, who won the BBC Fundraiser of the Year award in Radio Derby’s Make a Difference Awards, is focused on raising cash for the lodge and paying forward the kindness that she has received throughout her diagnosis.
The campaign, that began with ‘Help for Hannah’ and funded her brain cancer treatment, continues with the aim of purchasing the lodge. Mrs Iredale added: “Hannah is our world. She is such a happy ray of sunshine. She just wants to do something for every other teenager in this situation and we are totally behind her.
“We still have a long way to go. With the help of our volunteers and fellow trustees Tanya Bull and Helen Harrison, we will continue to fundraise, but we really need business sponsorship to help us reach our target. JCB, who Hannah works for, has been tremendous but to reach our goal we need other companies to get on board.”
Supporters can get involved by sponsoring a yellow brick in a Lego wall that will feature in the lodge. People can pop into the shop at Mercia Marina until February 8 to sign a brick. Bricks cost £10 each. To donate to Hannah’s Hope please visit: Hannah’s Hope
