AN INSPIRING Coventry girl who has three inoperable brain tumours has been name one of Radio 1’s Teen Heroes for her tireless fundraising.
Despite spending the last three years relentlessly battling cancer, Rosie Abbott has managed to raise a whopping £15,000 for Cancer Research, The Stand up To Cancer Campaign, Ronald McDonald House Charity, The Little Princess Trust and the Teenage Cancer Trust.
The 14-year-old was honoured along side a number of other youths at Radio 1’s Teen Heroes Awards for their selfless, brave and exceptional achievements on Sunday (November 8) at London’s SSE Arena, in Wembley.
Rosie was first diagnosed with Medulloblastoma, a highly malignant primary brain tumour, in 2012. She underwent nine hours of brain surgery, to remove the tumour, before beginning her chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The young fighter carried on attending The Blue Coat School whenever possible and continued with her passion for horse riding.
During her treatment Rosie completed The Race for Life Coventry, embarked on a charity bed hop across the city’s department stores and even was awarded a Little Star accolade by Cancer Research UK for her courage and bravery.
Rosie said she wanted to give something back to the charities which had helped her.
The brave trooper went on to raise £7,500 for Ronald McDonald House Charity Birmingham before she was told she was in remission in May 2013. Unfortunately a year later Rosie’s Medulloblastoma returned and this time in an inoperable location.
She underwent a further nine months of treatment which ended in January 2015 and became the first child to receive the cyber knife treatment at QE hospital in Birmingham. The Cyber knife treatment a non-invasive alternative to surgery.
During this time Rosie continued on her fundraising mission racking up a whopping £3,600 for The Little Princess Trust and £4,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust
The treatment proved successful once again and Rosie was told she was in remission but after six weeks doctors found two further inoperable brain tumours, February 2015.
She is now undergoing intensive chemotherapy and is being closely monitored.
Rosie also raised money for Make-A-Wish UK and has recently scooped the Child of Courage Award at The Pride of Coventry and Warwickshire Awards.
Rosie’s mum Louise Abbott said: “Rosie had already done some fundraising before she was poorly so it came quite naturally.
“It has been very difficult – Rosie just accepts it and does what she can
“We never thought it would return – it was heartbreaking.
“Lots of people joined her Facebook page so they could help raise money on her behalf for her chosen charities.
“She inspires others to fundraise and it has become a part of our lives – we are so proud.”
Rosie said: “I was just really shocked and really excited when I first found out about the award.
“I never thought I would raise that much.”
