Girl wishing to carry on her studies while battling cancer was given a laptop from KnowHow Newark after a fundraiser was cancelled

A girl's wish to continue with her studies while battling cancer was granted after a fundraiser had to be cancelled.

When asked by local fundraiser Matthew Ash what she wanted as a wish, 16-year-old Jemma-Rose Pashley said she wanted a laptop so she could still study.

Matthew said even though Jemma knew he ordinarily raised thousands of pounds from his wish-granting events, she wanted all other donations to go to the cancer ward she is being treated on at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham.

Four days after her 16th birthday last year, Jemma went to the doctor with knee pain and was sent for an x-ray where an abnormal growth as discovered.

She was immediately transferred to King's Mill for an MRI, CT and radiation scan and, in November, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma — a form of bone cancer.

Jemma then went through 10 weeks of chemotherapy before having a knee replacement operation in March. She is now resting and prognosis is good, but there is still a long road ahead.

"With the football tournaments we give the children a wish, then organise the tournaments to make it happen," Matthew said.

"With the current situation of Covid-19 I have had to cancel the tournament, but decided to set up a fundraising page. This got £280, £200 short of the price of the laptop I had been asked to choose."

Matthew said his good friend Amy Everatt and founder of HUG (HelpUsGrieve) — a Newark baby loss charity — contacted a KnowHow worker to ask for a discount on the laptop.

"Rather than a donation, they have offered to donate the laptop for free," said Matthew. "This is an incredible thing to do and so appreciated.

"KnowHow has made it possible for Jemma to continue with her educational studies, while also making it possible for her to get presents for other children with the donated money."

Matthew has paid special thanks to Matt Revill and Lyn Osbourne of KnowHow Newark for making Jemma's wish come true.

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