Luna is a big wheel in Gosh fundraiser
LUNA CADEN was diagnosed with bladder cancer as a baby. It was a terrifying time for her family but she recovered following treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Now aged 11, the Naima JPS pupil appreciates that “not everyone is as lucky as me” and has just completed a long-distance challenge to raise well over £12,000 for Gosh.
She and her father David cycled from London to the Cotswolds, an endeavour also honouring the memory of Alice Campargue.
In October 2018, just before her third birthday, Alice was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumour.
She underwent surgery at Gosh to remove the tumour and continued her treatment in France with her family and twin sister Judith by her side.
After seven months of care and multiple rounds of surgery, her cancer had gone but the cumulative effect of the treatment took its toll and she died on May 12.
“I never met Alice but her dad works with my mum and when I heard her story, I was very moved,” Luna explained.
She said of Alice and other children like her: “It is not their fault they don’t get better. It is not because they don’t try or they aren’t fighting. They fought just as hard as me. I was just lucky.
“This ride and this money is to say thank you to the hospital, for me and for Alice — and for all those children who do not get the opportunity to give something back to Gosh.”
It had also been an opportunity to spend time with her dad.
“We had loads of stops, got fish and chips and got to see the countryside along the way.”
Mr Caden said that apart from a few grumbles “about her bottom hurting”, the ride had been “a lot of fun.
“We cycle a lot as a family and have been going to and from school for a long time using the tandem. It provides a chance to talk in a way you ordinarily don’t get. You can’t see each other’s faces but we sing and blather on about all kinds of topics.”