Newport leukaemia teen battles back to see Olly Murs in concert (From South Wales Argus)

Newport leukaemia teen battles back to see Olly Murs in concert

10:30am Friday 1st February 2013 in Gwent news By Natalie Crockett

A TEENAGER who was diagnosed with leukaemia a week after meeting her idol Olly Murs hopes to be well enough to see him in concert in March.

Rebecca Jennings, 13, won a competition to meet her favourite pop star when he visited Tesco in Spytty to do a book signing in October.

But just a week later the St Julian’s School pupil, who underwent tests after suffering back and leg pain, was given the devastating news she had the disease.

The brave Year 9 youngster has been receiving chemotherapy at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales since then.

As a result the family postponed Christmas and will celebrate when Rebecca is well enough to return to her St Julian’s home.

Despite the gruelling treatment, which leaves her extremely tired, the determined teenager has been asking for school work, and her mum, Samantha, and dad, Gary, who have moved into the hospital, have been reading it to her.

She is already looking forward to returning to school and has chosen her GCSE options, including hospitality, health and social care, sociology, and information technology, from her hospital bed ready for next year.

Now doctors are focusing on making her well enough to attend her hero’s concert in Cardiff on March 25.

This week the school held a fundraiser, organised by her close friends, in aid of the charity Latch, which is supporting the former Eveswell Primary School pupil’s family.

They all wore the charity’s colours of pink and black, sold cakes and made bracelets. They also had Tshirts made with a picture of Rebecca with Olly Murs on the front, and made a PowerPoint presentation with pictures and messages to the teenager, to the sound of the X Factor finalist’s songs.

Teacher Joanne Easter- Thomas described Rebecca as a “lovely” and “bright” child and praised her positive attitude.

She said: “I have been in to see Rebecca and the whole school is rallying behind her. Everyone wanted to do everything we could to encourage her and help the Latch charity.”