Join my Race for Life, says cancer survivor Holly
ASOUTHPORT cancer survivor is calling on women to join the fight against the disease by entering Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.
Holly Allen, a former Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School student, feared she would never dance again after being diagnosed with cancer at the aged of just 15.
Now she is encouraging women of all ages and abilities to sign up to Southport Race for Life 5k or 10k event on Sunday, June 3 at Princes Park in Southport.
When Holly was diagnosed with cancer, her immediate dread was losing her long, blonde hair because of the gruelling treatment she knew she faced to save her life.
But worse was to come.
The accomplished dancer was knocked for six when doctors were unable to assure her she would ever dance again after r side effects left her r needing crutches as she was too weak to even walk.
But Holly, now 20, bounced back and is sharing her cancer experience in the hope of inspiring and motivating other young people to fight the disease.
Holly had been a keen dancer - training six days a week after school - and had been very lucky to get a place for a week at a prestigious dance summer school in London.
But during the very first warm-up, she felt faint.
Then, on a family holiday to France, Holly looked pale and continued to feel tired, weak and had no appetite.
The family lived in Swansea at the time and on her first day back at school, Holly felt out of breath and had a bad headache.
Her mum, who is a scientist, and dad, a doctor, were so concerned they arranged for a blood test.
The results confirmed there was a problem and they immediately took her to their local A&E.
Holly said: “That night the rollercoaster began” began.”
She was transferred to an oncology unit, where tests confirmed she had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
“It was a massive shock. When my parents told me what was wrong, I still had no idea it was a type of cancer until my dad e explained it to me.
“My first thought was ‘A ‘Am I going to lose my h hair’. For a 15-year-old with long, golden, curly hair, that was the worst thing.”
She stayed in hospital f for a month while her c chemotherapy got under way.
During two years of treatment she had to return to hospital many times because of complications and side effects.
Although Holly was only able to attend school occasionally she was determined to finish her GCSEs with the help of a home tutor when she was well enough.
“Going to school was hard because 15-yearolds don’t know what to say when they are faced with someone who has cancer,” she said.
“I felt very insecure and embarrassed at how I looked.
“Steroids I had to take made me puffy and bloated, I had lost all my hair by then and the drugs affected my skin.”
But Holly was proud when her hard work and determination was rewarded with 11 GCSE passes, including one A* and eight As.
Two years later, her dad was offered a new job in Liverpool.
The family moved to Southport and Holly went to Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School in Crosby.
The teenager, who was still having treatment, found it helped being with a new group of people who only knew her as she was then and not as she used to be.
In her first year she won a Student of the Year Award for the energy and effort she put into studying humanity and the arts.
Holly is now in her third year studying English at Nottingham University.
She said: “I was aware that the chemotherapy treatment could make my bones weak and the sideeffects may not be temporary.
“I suffered tingling in my hands and feet and I needed to use crutches because my ankles were so weak.
“I ask the doctor if I would ever dance again. He said he couldn’t answer that. It depended if whether or not I could bounce back.
“That knocked me for six and made me feel very sad. But I was determined to get back to fitness.”
She is now back to full fitness with the help of regular weight training.
She said: “I want to share my story to inspire people going through a difficult time. I’m happier than ever and I finally have my confidence back.”
Holly took part in Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life for the first time a year after her treatment finished to give herself a goal to get back to fitness and plans to run again this year.
She said: “I’m determined to help others by raising money so Cancer Research UK can ensure even more men, women and children survive.
“So I’m urging women in Southport to come together and unite at Race for Life because every participant can help make a real difference.”
To enter visit raceforlife. org or call 0300 123 0770.