The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Brave Lily overjoyed at meeting her pop idols
Little Mix concert thrill for youngster fighting cancer
A dream came true for a brave Perth girl fighting cancer when she met her pop idols Little Mix.
Lily Douglas met the band at their concert at Dundee’s Slessor Gardens on Thursday, when the group played in front of 11,000 people.
It was a moment of true magic for the St John’s RC Academy Primary pupil as Lily and her family got a prime view of Little Mix by being positioned close to the stage.
And it will be an event to remember as she continues her treatment after being diagnosed with stage four Ewing’s sarcoma – a form of bone cancer.
Her mother Jane said: “The girls in Little Mix were great with Lily and gave her a goodie bag. We were right at the front of the stage and even got a few waves from the girls as they performed.”
Family friend Brooke Robertson said it was a “dream come true” for Lily to meet her pop idols.
“A friend Erin McNicol had arranged the whole thing and Lily got to go to see the band with her friend Cerys Robertson which was brilliant,” she said.
“Lily has now had three chemotherapy treatments and the cancer has gone from one lung and there is still a little spot in the other lung.
“She’s lost a lot of weight because of the treatment but is a little fighter and is doing really, really well.”
Friends of the family posted messages on social media after seeing a photograph of Lily with Little Mix.
Sharon Neil said: “That beautiful smile just melts your heart – wonderful memories for you sweetheart.”
Denise Cruickshanks said: “Look at Lily’s smile – brilliant xxx.”
Lily, who is a keen ballet, tap and street dancer, was invited to audition for Scottish Ballet prior to her illness and has already amassed 80 dance trophies.
She was shocked to find a lump on her shoulder in April and was taken to her GP who then referred her to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, where medical staff found a tumour.
Lily has since been receiving treatment at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
A crowfunding page www.gofundme. com/support-our-lily has now raised £27,000 for Lily and her family.
Amazingly they raised £10,000 in just 24 hours after launching the appeal.
Around 300 people will take part in the Race for Life 5k in Perth next Sunday wearing T-shirts showing support for Lily and Leva Stewart – a two-year-old Perth toddler who has been diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer developing from connective tissues in the body.