The mother of a girl told she had cancer aged just four has been nominated as an unsung hero – by the charity which supported her for years.
Amy Jones, 32, from Hampton Wick, has now turned her hand to fundraising on behalf of Momentum, a Kingston group that works to help children feel more comfortable at hospital.
Her daughter Mia, now seven, had leukaemia diagnosed at Kingston Hospital, but has been in remission for nine months.
Amy said: “I just wanted to give back, basically, because they have done so much for me and my daughter.
“Obviously I was not in a place back then to give back, but I thought now was the time. I have been wanting to do something for ages.
“When your child first has cancer diagnosed you have to stay in the hospital, and that is when I first met them and they were really kind people. It does have a massive impact.”
But she still found time to study full-time and to work as a DJ at the weekends. Her psychology dissertation was published in an academic journal.
Amy said: “I just thought, ‘I can’t stop.’ It kept me focused, but it was difficult. I remember being in hospital and having to go to an exam the next day.
“When anybody in your family gets ill you want to stop but you can’t. But I could not have done it without my mum and dad, really.”
She is now preparing to cycle from London to Brighton in support of Momentum, and has raised more than £1,500.
Bianca Effemey, Momentum co-founder, said: “She has been absolutely amazing to us as a charity.
“Even when her daughter was going through a really rough time she still wanted to give something back.
“Anybody who comes back to us, it makes us feel that we have done something that was positive.
“She is inspirational because she is helping us now.”
Kristie Higgens, Momentum office manager, said: “She is just amazing. I know she is drumming up support from her friends and family to raise money.
“She is an inspiration and she has really been working hard to raise awareness about Momentum and children who are going through the same thing that Mia has done.”
To donate to Amy’s cycling effort visit uk.virginmoney giving.com/Amyamia.
Do you know an unsung hero? Call 020 8744 4273 or email newsdesk@surreycomet.co.uk.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT MORE UNSUNG HEROES
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