Nawton schoolgirl Grace highlights plight of cancer research funding due to Covid-19

Grace Smith or Binky as she is known to friends, 10, was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in April 2007 aged just seven.

She and her family have vowed to help Cancer Research UK continue its mission as it launches an urgent new appeal for donations.

Grace completed two and a half years of treatment which included being on a clinical trial funded by Cancer Research UK.

Her mum Kathy Boothman, 47, said: “We didn’t know it at the time, but the trial Binky was on was funded by Cancer Research UK so we want to do all we can to help highlight the importance of research.”

Grace, who is an avid horse rider, was diagnosed just over three years ago after she was no longer able to keep doing the activities she loved.

During lockdown she has continued her check-ups with her consultant via video calls.

Kathy said: “Like everyone else we’ve been managing with lockdown as best we can, but as we live on a farm Binky’s home-schooling is more likely to be done in a tractor and running around the yard.

“It’s great to see how far she has come. Sadly we recently got a sad reminder of the other outcomes of cancer when we lost a friend of hers from the ward. It really hit us and showed how lucky we are.

“We can’t thank the team enough for how they helped her. Now she’s just a regular young girl with lots of attitude and getting back to what she loves most – riding.”

Lisa Millett, Cancer Research UK spokesperson for North Yorkshire, said: “We’re grateful to Binky and her family for helping to underline the stark reality of the current situation.

“Covid-19 has put so much of our research on pause, leaving us facing a crisis where every day and every pound counts. We will never stop striving to create better treatments. But we can’t do it alone.

“Whether they donate, sign up to Race for Life at Home or shop at our stores - with their help, we believe that together we will still beat cancer.”

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