Inspirational teenager to launch children’s cancer charity

A BGS student who was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer aged 13 is to launch her own charity to help other youngsters with cancer.

Tabitha Wood, now 15, has so far raised more than £22k for the teenage cancer ward at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) and Hannah’s Willberry Wonder Pony, a charity which grants equine wishes for seriously ill people.

Most of the funds were raised via a tough 250-mile cycle ride from London to Leeds in the summer, that the Bradford Grammar School (BGS) student did with dad, Adrian, 58, and brother Ben, 19. Following its success, the experience has spurred Tabby on to set up her own charity.

Tabby, who is in remission, said: “I feel well now, and it meant a lot to be able to do the cycle ride. When I was on the cancer ward, everyone looked a bit sad and I thought it would be nice to have something which would take their minds off things, like iPads. And I really love horses and I know how much horses have helped me in my recovery, so I wanted to give back to a charity which makes wishes come true for people who love horses and are ill.

“Since then, with my friends at BGS and family, we’ve thought of new challenges. That’s what gave me the idea to set up a charity, so we can carry on fundraising and help other children who have cancer.”

Tabby was diagnosed with a rare form of fast-growing ovarian cancer when she was just 13. The keen horse rider had shown few symptoms other than feeling tired and a lump in her stomach. Tests showed she had a tumour the size of a melon and she underwent emergency surgery at LGI to remove it.

Her mum Sarah recalled: “The doctors didn’t know how she’d shown so few symptoms. The diagnosis was quite a lot for someone so young to take in, it was very tough for everyone.

“The NHS was on it from the very first day we went and the BGS family put us in touch with Professor Michael Seckl, a world expert in Tabby’s cancer.

“Throughout it all, Tabby just got on with it. She never, ever said ‘why me?’ For a 15-year-old to then achieve something like this is amazing. We’re so proud of her.”

As she recovered, the resilient teenager focused on being able to ride her pony again. She succeeded and in July, represented England with her pony, Brandini, at the under 25 dressage Home International and the British Dressage Youth Inter Regional Rider Championships where she was overnight leader and finished ninth overall.

Next she set a new challenge. Tabby and Ben, a former BGS student who is now in his first year at Cambridge University, came up with the challenge to ride from London’s Charing Cross Hospital, where Prof Seckl waved the team off, to the LGI, where her day-to-day care takes place, as a way of giving back to the people who saved her life.

It took the Woods, who live in Burley-in-Wharfedale, up to six days, cycling up to 53 miles per day to achieve their goal using an app to plot their route. Sarah provided back up for the intrepid crew with the family motorhome.

Said Tabby: “It was a big challenge, so it was quite daunting, especially because I’d never even ridden a bike on the road until five weeks before we set off!

“During the ride it was tough, and the heat didn’t help. I just kept going and thinking about how every mile I did was raising money for these great charities.”

Tabby is now in remission and has to have blood tests every two months and scans every three to keep a close eye on her health. She’s looking forward to presenting her cheques to her chosen charities. The target was £10,000 but the family surpassed that by raising £22,500. They were helped by Tabby’s classmates who raised £325 from a bake sale and sports day.

Dr Simon Hinchliffe, Headmaster of Bradford Grammar, said: “Tabby is a true inspiration to all of us and she is the living embodiment of our school motto, Hoc Age, which translates as ‘get on and do’. She is a credit to the school we are all very proud of her.”