A GROUP of teenagers are working together to help the family of a five-year-old who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

Avaya Powell has been diagnosed with neuroblastoma – cancer that affects around 100 children each year. After taking part in a clinical trial and having chemotherapy, the family is now looking for other treatments to tackle it – but must raise a quarter of a million pounds.

Kingsdown students Tia Surridge, Macie and Mia Pike, and Talia Hayward met Avaya at Charlotte Johnson’s School of Dance have put on Easter Egg hunts and raffles to raise funds. The four friends are brainstorming other ideas to get Avaya’s family closer to their £250,000 target.

Mia, 15, said: “We were told by our dance teacher about what was happening with Avaya, it was devastating, we knew straight away that we needed to help.

“We’ve done various things, like an Easter egg hunt, we wore pink, and after Easter break, we’re doing a danceathon to Avaya’s favourite song Waka Waka by Shakira. 

“We want to raise £6,000 in total. I hope we can, we’re going to think of other ideas to help us reach this goal.

“She’s so smiley and sassy. She always lights up the room. It would be amazing to reach our goal to help her and her family, it would mean everything.”

The five-year-old was diagnosed after she began getting pains in her legs, back, and stomach back in 2019.

Avaya had blood tests and a visit to a consultant, then after a six-week wait for an ultrasound scan, an 18cm tumour was discovered. More scans and tests followed, including an MRI which confirmed she had neuroblastoma in January last year.

A year later she was handed an award for her bravery. Avaya received the Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People Star Award after her mum Laura, of Priory Vale, nominated her.

She also received a £50 TK Maxx gift card, t-shirt, and a certificate signed by celebrities.
Headteacher of Kingsdown School Emma Leigh-Bennett is proud of her students for helping out. 

She said: “I’ve been absolutely so impressed with their creativity, their entrepreneurial spirit, and the leadership qualities they have shown.

“In such a short space of time, they’ve organised two events so far. On top of that, they’ve had the whole school community get involved with this. It’s been an incredible whole school effort.”

Donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/avayas-fight-against-neuroblastoma