Cancer survivor Brooke sets up business to raise money for charity

Brooke McClafferty is raising funds for Cancer Research and two hospitals where she received treatment.

Brooke was diagnosed with the cancer Retinoblastoma when she was just seven weeks old.

“She had chemotherapy until she was six months old and went to Dublin for weekly laser and cryotherapy treatment under general anaesthetic,” her mum Elaine explained.

“The tumours just kept coming back and when she was two and half years old one of the tumours in her right eye was too big and they couldn’t work with it. The doctors had to remove her right eye and she had to go through chemotherapy again.”

Brooke, who is now registered blind and uses a cane, continues to be monitored by doctors.

She originally starting raising money for Cancer Research after she had a trip to London for the Kids and Teens Cancer Research Awards.

Brooke wanted other young people with cancer to have the same amazing experience.

The St Cecilia’s College pupil was named young volunteer of the year by Cancer Research earlier this year for her fundraising efforts.

Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions, Brooke wasn’t able to collect the award in person but at the time said she was ‘over the moon’ because the nominees were from all over the UK.

Brooke raised over £1,000 for the charity in just one day with a ‘LemonAid’ stand, however the Covid pandemic meant that she was unable to continue fundraising in this way.

“She is mad about art and being creative,” Elaine said. “She was initially looking to do bath bombs, but because it is a cosmetic product we thought the wax melts would be easier. They are more expensive to produce than lemonade so Brooke has to cover her costs, but she is not in it to make any money for herself.”

As well as donating money to Cancer Research, Brooke also wanted to donate to the two hospitals where she received her treatment - the Haematology department in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and Temple Street in Dublin.

Elaine said the whole family have got involved in the project to help Brooke raise as much money as possible.

“Brooke is such a good wain, she always thinks of others and is always smiling. She is loving being our boss. In the house we are like Santa’s wee elves with a conveyor belt producing the wax melts!”

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