My niece Hannah was born on the 4th December 2023 and was loved by the whole family from day one.

In the spring of 2024, Hannah became unwell and on the 31st May 2024 she was taken to Scunthorpe General Hospital with bowel problems. Hannah was quickly transferred to Sheffield Children’s Hospital where she had various blood tests, scans and x-rays, Hannah was found to have a mass on her coccyx for which she underwent surgery a short time later. Further tests on the mass which had been removed came back as a form of cancer called germ cell tumour.

- Definition: Growths made from cells that fail to mature correctly. They can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

- Common Locations: Most often found in the gonads - the testicles in males or the ovaries in females.

- Extragonadal Tumours: Can also form outside the reproductive organs in places like the chest, abdomen, brain, or lower spine due to abnormal cell movement during early development.

- Who it Affects: Most common in children, teens, and young adults

The team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital were quick to put a treatment plan together consisting of four intense rounds of chemotherapy, each lasting 3 days at a time.

Hannah’s parents, Rebecca and Chris, were put in contact with PACT, who were there to help Rebecca, Chris and Hannah during her treatment. They helped with accommodation, food (whilst Hannah was on the ward) and support for them, whilst they were in Sheffield.

During this time, I took part in a 8 week well-being programme at Club Foundation Doncaster, at the time this was happening Lauren, Ben and the team along with the guys and gals from Fit Forces were there to offer support for me whilst Hannah battled through her diagnosis and treatment. I will be forever thankful and grateful for their help.

I'll be clocking up 100 miles on a combination of equipment in a 12-hour gym challenge to reflect the distance Hannah travelled for each treatment, whilst raising vital funds for PACT and Club Doncaster Foundation. Please support me by joining the challenge or donating towards these two important causes. Any donation, no matter how small, can make a huge difference!