A student diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer just weeks after her 18th birthday is fighting her way back to health.
Brave Morgan Sykes, of Hinchliffe Mill near Holmfirth, is three quarters of the way through gruelling chemotherapy treatment.
She has lost all her hair but not her confidence and friends and family are stunned at her positive outlook.
Morgan was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in December and mum Natalie said: “It takes time to sink it at first and it’s the scariest news you ever have to hear.
“But Morgan has taken it in her stride and just got on with it. As a family we deal with it on the days we have to and the rest of the time we just get on with life. Morgan has been brilliant.”
Friends and family have been so impressed they have organised a four-mile sponsored walk around the Holme Valley on Sunday, May 3.
More than 100 people are expected to take part helping to raise well over £2,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.
Morgan celebrated her 18th birthday last September and it was only weeks later she thought something wasn’t quite right.
Hodgkin lymphoma develops in the lymphatic system. A clear fluid called lymph carries infection-fighting white blood cells around the body.
The most common symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma is a painless swelling in a lymph node, usually in the neck, armpit or groin.
Natalie, 45, a hairdresser at Michael’s barbers in Holmfirth, said: “Morgan had no symptoms as such.
“What she had was not a lump but an enlargement over the top of her collarbone, it was almost like a piece of muscle tissue not a lump. I noticed it more than her.”
Natalie, who is married to 50-year-old Martyn and also has a 16-year-old son Aiden told how Natalie went to the doctor’s and scans and a biopsy were taken in hospital.
Chemotherapy sessions started almost immediately and Morgan goes to the specialist teenage cancer unit at St James’ Hospital in Leeds every fortnight.
Her treatment is due to end in late May or early June and Natalie added: “Morgan is dealing with all this so well.
“It’s not very pleasant for anyone to lose their hair but Morgan pulls a bobble hat on and gets on with it. I’m not sure I could do it.”
Morgan is studying travel and tourism at Kirklees College and hasn’t missed many classes despite the treatment.
“The prognosis is good and 90-95% make a full recovery but other than that I can’t tell you a great deal because I’ve not been able to bring myself to look it up on the internet,” said Natalie.
“Morgan has just got on with her life. There’s no mileage in being miserable. Keeping a positive spirit goes a long way towards aiding recovery.”
The walk starts from Holmbridge Parish Hall at 1pm and there will be an afternoon tea from 1.30pm with entertainment provided by musical groups from Hope Bank Works which includes a concertina and accordion band, the community choir and youth band.
Natalie and Morgan sing with the choir and Aiden plays in one of the bands. Soprano Sarah Ogden will also perform.
Morgan won’t be well enough to walk but hopes to sing with the choir.
To help raise funds, walkers are asked to donate a minimum of £5 for individual entry or £20 for a family of four.
To register or donate go to www.justgiving.com/Morgan-Sykes/
