A mother from Alton has explained how her daughter is leading the fight to improve cancer treatment for children and teenagers.

Teiva Collins, 13, was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2019 after becoming breathless and pale. She has overcome the disease but faces daily struggles because of the long-term side effects of her treatment.

In September Teiva (pictured) was the face of a nationwide campaign to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

She starred in a poster appeal for Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People that featured her picture on display in the Alton and Winchester stores and various other shops across the UK.

Photographed with her dog Kimba, who helps her face challenging side effects following treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Teiva and her family shared her story to help raise awareness and funds for research.  

Teiva’s mum Dawn understands the importance of new discoveries to help children and teenagers survive cancer with a good quality of life.  

Dawn said: “When her treatment ended in July 2021 we held a big party and hoped that would mark the beginning of a new chapter, but sadly she’s suffered a lot of long-term side effects. She often feels sick, has lots of tummy issues, terrible headaches, fatigue and lots of pain in her legs and feet.

“She’s under a number of different doctors and still has to undergo a lot of tests, even though her leukaemia has gone. She’s not really felt well since before her diagnosis and I just wish she could wake up one day and feel good.

“Research meant Teiva beat cancer but some treatments for childhood cancers have not changed for years. There can be serious long-term side effects and too many children don’t beat it.

“We need much more research to find kinder treatments and that’s why raising money for Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People is so vital.”