Brave Edith is chef’s special says TV cook
A TV chef has given a Christmas cookery class to a young cancer survivor to reward her for her bravery.
Jean- Christophe Novelli said it was “a privilege to cook alongside someone very, very special” when he hosted the virtual pancake- making session with Edith Coombes.
The seven- year- old lost her long blonde hair and had to undergo 26 months of chemotherapy after she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2018.
She finished her treatment earlier this year and impressed the Michelinstarred TV chef with her egg- cellent cracking and flipping skills when he showed her how to put a festive twist on her favourite pancakes.
Edith, from Southampton, said: “It was so much fun meeting Christophe and making the pancakes.
“My favourite part was when I got to eat everything. I can’t wait to have fun this Christmas without treatment.”
Jean- Christophe, 59, whose son Valentino was diagnosed with cancer at just six weeks old, had nothing but praise for Edith.
He told her: “You’ve been absolutely fantastic. What you’ve been through is just unbelievable and you are just happy all the time and this is so special. As soon as I saw your face and when you spoke, after 10 seconds I realised I am having the privilege to cook alongside someone that is very, very special.”
Their video marked the launch of Cancer Research UK’s Children and Young People Star Awards which recognises youngsters who have shown great courage after their diagnosis.