Chesterfield schoolgirl fundraising for Pancreatic Cancer UK in memory of grandad

Nine-year-old Freya Holleworth, a pupil at Walton Holymoorside Primary School, is walking or running 10,000 steps every day in November to bring in cash for Pancreatic Cancer UK.

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Fundraiser Freya is taking on the charity challenge after she lost her grandad, 73-year-old Dennis William Barber, to pancreatic cancer in March, four weeks after his diagnosis.

The youngster said: “I want to raise some money for Pancreatic Cancer UK so nobody has to feel as sad as I do when I miss my grandad.”

Her parents Lisa and Richard, of Walton, said: “Freya is absolutely amazing.

“She set herself a target of £50 but she’s already raised £430 in five days so we decided to change the target to £500 in the hope she’ll go over that.

“She’s only nine-years-old and wanted to raise the profile of pancreatic cancer.

“We’re all so proud of her and know that her grandad would be too.”

Lisa added: “Freya was very close to her grandad and wanted to do something positive.

“The pancreatic cancer symbol is purple which is very apt as Freya's grandad used to sing the song Purple Rain to her all the time and it was played at his funeral.

“Freya stood by my side as I read my dad’s eulogy and was such a brave superstar.”

A spokesperson for Pancreatic Cancer UK thanked Freya for her efforts.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, when people across the world come together to fight back against and raise awareness of the illness.

Data shows pancreatic cancer is the fifth biggest cancer killer in England – with 7,800 deaths every year.

Symptoms of pancreatic cancer include pain in the stomach area or back, yellowing of the skin or whites of your eyes (jaundice) and weight loss.

Doctors are urging people to contact their GP ‘immediately’ if they are worried they might have cancer symptoms.

They insist the NHS is ‘open for business’ and has not closed its doors to non-Covid-19 patients.

To sponsor Freya, go to www.facebook.com/donate/799909324185951 – and find out more information about pancreatic cancer on the NHS website via www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreatic-cancer.

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