NICK STATHAM

ABRAVE youngster who is battling a rare form of leukaemia threw a 13th birthday party to raise funds for the hospital which has cared for her throughout her illness.

Charlotte Jennings from Gatley organised the charity bash at the Hallmark Hotel in Handforth in aid of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

But the selfless teen, who received a bone marrow transplant last July, asked the 160 well wishers to give money to her fundraising campaign or donate gifts for auction and raffle rather than buy her birthday gifts.

Kingsway School pupil Charlotte set a target of making £3,500 from the event, but smashed that figure on the night by raising £5,300.

Among the prizes auc-

Birthday girl Charlotte Jennings with her dad Paul, mum Lynne and brother Mike tioned off or raffled were footballs signed by the Manchester United and Liverpool squads, an ultimate Porsche driving experience and a signed photograph of boy band One Direction.

Due to the chemotherapy treatment for her illness – acute myeloid leukaemia – effectively ‘wiping out’ her immune system, Charlotte had to spend 18 weeks in isolation last year.

Her room only had a small television set and no wi-fi connection.

She was cut off from pals and unable to communicate with her friends via Facebook or Skype, an experience she likens to ‘being in a prison cell’.

So she decided to raise money to improve facilities for patients on the bone marrow transplant unit and Ward 84 at the children’s cancer unit.

Charlotte said: “I want to be known as someone who has made a big difference by raising money for the hospital, not just as the girl who has cancer.

“The care and treatment I have received from the hospital has been amazing, I just want to give something back and to help other children.

“I know first-hand what it’s like to be in hospital for a long period of time, I was in isolation for over two months.

“I want to help purchase distractions, like DVD players, which makes life easier for patients and their families at such a difficult time.

“I especially want to thank Hilton Smythe for sponsoring the night; I can’t put it in to words what their involvement means to me.”

Charlotte’s mum, Lynne, added: “I don’t know any other child who at 13 would have said they don’t want birthday presents – we are so proud of her.”