The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Brave teenager hailed for helping charities
A brave teenager diagnosed with leukaemia is fighting back by making and selling bracelets to raise money for cancer research. Sixteen- year- old Nicole Hichens had her world turned upside down in October last year when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, after finding a lump on her neck.
The disease is a form of leukaemia and meant that Nicole would have to undergo regular chemotherapy sessions in a bid to recover.
But after being given the bombshell news Nicole became determined to raise awareness of the illness and help other teenagers in the same position.
She started making bracelets at her home in Oakdale Avenue in Stanground and just eight hours after advertising them for sale on Twitter, she had sold over 100.
Nicole has since sold a further 100 bracelets and raised just under £ 2,000 for the cancer charities Clic Sargent and The Prince’s Trust.
Nicole, who was studying at Stanground Academy until the diagnosis, said: “Being told I had cancer was such a shock, but I wanted to turn something so negative into something to smile about.
“I also wanted to keep my brain active because otherwise I would have ended up staying in bad all day crying.
“I’ve had a really positive response, I’ve had requests from people all over the country.
“Not only do I want to beat cancer but I want to try and
“It would be nice to be a normal teenager again.”
Nicole Hichens
help as many people who are in the same boat.”
Nicole started chemotherapy in four months ago and the fortnightly sessions will run until March.
She added: “The chemo has been going well and I’ve got four more to go. My hair had started to thin so I’m always wearing hats and I don’t feel so confident.
“My friends and family have been really supportive but I miss going to parties, playing sport and having fun.
“It would be really nice to go back to being a normal teenager once again.”
Karen Roberts, CLIC Sargent Eastern Area fundraising manager, said: “To have organised such an incredible fund raising effort speaks volumes for Nicole’s determination, and we cannot thank her enough.
“She has al s o raised awareness of childhood cancer in her area and shownan awful lot about her strength of character too.”
To find out about Nicole’s fund raising bid or to buy a bracelet visit her website http:// my- story22. webnode.com or contact her via Twitter @ NicoleHichens.