The Young Achiever award recognises a young person who has shown great determination and courage in life. Today we are delighted to unveil our Young Achiever, Scottish Children’s Health Award Winner as Georgie Hyslop, from Ardrossan, who is a beacon of resilience and compassion. Her story is captured below by journalist and TV Presenter Catriona Shearer.
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Georgie was just 15 when, on the 8 December, she was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma – a type of cancer. “It was such a shock, just before Christmas,” she says.
It’s difficult for anyone whose life hasn’t been touched by cancer to imagine the magnitude of such news.
“As a parent, getting a cancer diagnosis for your child; the world stops,” says mum, Lynn. “It’s so difficult to process that information – it was like a train hitting us, so for a 15-year-old, I can’t begin to imagine what that’s been like for her.”
But Georgie was already full steam ahead with plans to help others in the same situation. In an incredible display of selflessness, just 20 days after receiving her diagnosis, Georgie set up a fundraising account with the aim of raising £5,000. Her determination and resilience to keep fundraising through her own battles has been inspirational. She’s smashed that target and has raised more than £25,000 to date organising everything from a sponsored shave to a fun day and a concert in a local church.
Most people hadn’t heard of the type of cancer she has, so as well as raising money, she’s also raising awareness. “Georgie’s courage to fundraise for other people while going through her own treatment is nothing short of astounding,” says Lynn. “She makes her family very proud – she’s a true warrior.”
Mum Lynn and dad Paul were able to tell her news of the award in hospital, which came at a momentous time. “When my mum and dad read out the winners e-mail to me, we were in hospital.
“I was really happy to hear I’d won this award, and it came at a very special time, because I’d just been told by my doctors that my scans showed no evidence of disease.”
Before her diagnosis, Georgie loved to meet with friends, play sports and was a keen gamer. She also plays guitar and is a big Dr Who fan (especially David Tennant). She says her dad tried to make her hospital stays as comfortable and homely as possible. “Dad made sure I had a great set-up in my hospital room. He got me a portable wi-fi box so I could play on my PlayStation and brought my guitar in too.”
Georgie also tried to make other people’s time in hospital happier. She gave out ‘pocket hugs’ to patients waiting on scans at The Beatson and made the day of a little boy who was having radiation therapy. “He loves Spider-Man, so Georgie dressed as Spider-Man just to make him smile,” says mum.
Lynn and Paul have been awestruck at the way their daughter has handled everything, which is why they nominated Georgie for the award. She’s been “incredibly kind” during her diagnosis, they said. “She’s always thinking of others – and agreed to donate her tissue samples for research even before her diagnosis when we were waiting on biopsy results. She is exceptional.”
Georgie says she “just wanted to help kids and their families that have to go through this like us.”
In giving this award to Georgie, the judges were impressed not only by the fundraising, but by so many more aspects of Georgie’s story and said, “To think of fundraising and to set up her fundraising account page only 20 days after diagnosis is a tribute to her resilience. By involving her community in her fundraising, Georgie has also raised awareness of her condition. Finally, the stories of her engagement with other patients, notably dressing as Spider-Man to make a fellow young patient smile, are also great demonstrations of Georgie’s character.”
Congratulations, Georgie, on winning the Young Achiever Award.
#myhealthmyrights, #scottishchildrenshealthweek, #schw, #bemorebear, #healthrightsdefenders
