Casualty star makes teen’s wish a reality
News release and photo for immediate use
Monday 9 July 2012
Jennifer Harkness, 17, was diagnosed with cancer five years ago. On 7 June, Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK, the charity that grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions, granted her wish to meet new Casualty actor, and her idol, Alex Walkinshaw…
On arrival at the set of Casualty, Alex was waiting to meet Jennifer – she was so excited she dropped a cup of water over herself! Jennifer spent the day watching Alex’s scenes ahead of his debut appearance on 30 June, having lunch with him and seeing how the programme is put together. Jennifer even got a small walk-on part but she said her highlight was when Alex hugged her!
Jennifer, who is from Aldershot, started experiencing painful stomach aches at the age of 12. Her Mum, Jennifer, took her to see their GP who did a blood test and discovered she had Neuroblastoma Stage 4 – she was immediately taken to The Royal Marsden Hospital. Jennifer endured chemotherapy for a year, followed by radiotherapy and immunotherapy. She also had surgery to remove one of her kidneys and is now on HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy), and will be for the rest of her life.
When Jennifer found out that her wish to meet Alex was being granted, she jumped around screaming! After meeting him she said: “This is my absolute dream, it has been the best day of my life…I’ve really enjoyed it.”
After meeting Jennifer, Alex said: “Meeting Jenny today has been absolutely fantastic. She’s a very brave girl and she’s been a joy to show around.”
There are currently 20,000 children and young people in the UK fighting a life-threatening condition and this year alone 1,400 children will turn to Make-A-Wish to have their wish granted. The charity needs to raise £6.8 million in 2012 and receives no government funding or lottery grants – so every donation really does count.
To make a donation to Make-A-Wish please visit www.make-a-wish.org.uk or telephone 01276 40 50 60.
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For more information about this news release please contact:
Hayley Epps: T: 01276 405093 M: 07557563214 E: hayley.epps@makeawish.org.uk
Notes to editors:
1. More photos available if required and Jennifer is available for interview.
2. A 90-second clip of Jennifer’s wish is available to view here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myguS7h9NTQ&feature=plcp.
3. Please note that Make-A-Wish does not use phrases such as ‘terminally ill’ in order to respect the sensitive nature of life-threatening conditions and what they mean to children and young people and their families. We would ask that this approach is followed and that the term ‘life-threatening conditions’ is used in material for publication.
4. Make-A-Wish should be referred to as Make-A-Wish Foundation® UK in the first instance. Thereafter ‘Make-A-Wish’ or ‘Make-A-Wish Foundation’ is suitable. We would ask that you try to keep ‘Make-A-Wish’ on the same line.
5. Make-A-Wish grants magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions. The charity was founded in the UK in 1986. Registered charity number: 295672/SC037479 www.make-a-wish.org.uk.
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