The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Brave schoolgirl Lily steals the show at lights extravaganza
PERTH: Twelve-year-old cancer sufferer shares some amazing news during festive weekend in Scotland’s ‘capital of Christmas’
Brave Lily Douglas stole the show at Perth’s Christmas lights extravaganza with some incredible news about her three-year cancer battle.
The 12-year-old got one of the biggest cheers of the night when it was revealed on stage that she was now stable.
Champion dancer Lily, who has been fighting an aggressive form of bone cancer, was invited to take a starring role in Perth’s glitzy switch-on ceremony after a public appeal by family friend Pete Chan.
She took part in the traditional Christmas parade through the city centre – alongside music acts Atomic Kitten and Nina Nesbitt – before joining Provost Dennis Melloy and Catchphrase host Stephen Mulhern on the main stage.
Mr Melloy, who declared Perth “the capital of Chistmas”, announced: “Lily has been suffering cancer for a while now, but look at her – she’s smiles all over.
“What we found out yesterday was a wonderful piece of news that she is actually stable now.”
The St John’s Academy pupil helped the provost turn on the city’s festive display, triggering a spectacular fireworks show.
Tens of thousands of people poured into the city centre to watch this year’s celebration.
Perth and Kinross Council organised three music stages with more than 40 acts including Dario G, Basil Brush, X Factor star Chico and compere Lionel Vinyl.
Based on previous years’ figures, it costs about £220,000 to stage the switch-on ceremony, which in turn generates around £2m for the local economy.
Lily’s mum Jane said the family was “so pleased and so blessed” to be involved.
Lily was diagnosed with stage four Ewing’s Sarcoma when she was just nine. After months of treatment, including proton beam therapy in the US, Lily was declared cancer free in September.
Just days later, the family shared the devastating news that the cancer had returned, more aggressive than ever and spreading to both lungs. Lily has always refused to let the illness slow her down and has kept dancing throughout her treatment.
Jane confirmed that her scans were now stable: “This means the chemo she was on is allowed to continue, and she will be relatively well over Christmas.”
Christmas lights were also switched on in both Dunfermline and Glenrothes on Saturday.
In Dunfermline, festivities set off with a Santa Dash and 5km run, with participants in the Rotary Club of Dunfermline races dressed in Santa suits. Meanwhile, the Kingdom Shopping Centre hosted a Christmas Carnival, complete with an inflatable helter skelter and fairground rides.