Inspiring Nine-Year-Old From Grimsby Selected as Official Voice of Cancer Research UK’s Race-for-Life
Key Highlights :
Nine-year-old Ruby Leaning from Grimsby has been chosen as an official voice of Cancer Research UK’s ‘Race-for-Life’ next month. Ruby, who survived leukaemia during the Covid pandemic, will be participating in “Pretty Muddy Kids” alongside at least 300 other children on Saturday, July 15.
Ruby was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in January 2020 aged six after she collapsed at school and was rushed to hospital. The same day, her parents Rebecca, 32, and Nick, 37, were told she had cancer of the white blood cells. She eventually overcame leukaemia thanks to a life-saving stem cell transplant from her younger sister, Mabel, four.
In a hilarious promotional video released by Cancer Research UK, the two sisters are dressed in blushing pink teeshirts with pink bandannas and their faces decorated by mum Rebecca with streaks of “mud” which look suspiciously like chocolate sauce or Nutella. As Mabel cheekily sounds a horn, Ruby talks into a megaphone: She says: “Hi, I’m Ruby and I’m nine and I am the voice of Pretty Muddy Kids. Thankyou for your hard work fundraising for cancer research. “I’d like to thank my sister, Mabel, for helping to save my life. She is the best little sister and I love her. “We love playing in the garden together and doing art. Thank you for everything you are doing today and good luck.”
Her words have started to be heard around the country, with the 30th year of Race for Life already under way. Ruby will see how her powerful story inspires others as she helps to set her peers off at the start of the race. It will be an occasion to savour for the Leaning family as the event falls five days before the third anniversary of the stem cell transplant, three days after Mabel’s fifth birthday and eight days before Ruby’s 10th birthday.
Due to the pandemic, she had to go through much of her treatment over the next year alone, courage that was rewarded with a Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People Star Award. In an audio recording, Ruby explained: “At first, the treatment didn’t work well enough. My mum and dad were told by the doctors that my best chance of getting better was a stem cell transplant. I was lucky as my sister, Mabel, was a perfect match.”
Ruby had to have constant chemotherapy to be ready for a transplant and Rebecca said one of her stand-out memories from the period was Ruby running around in the back garden whilst wearing a chemo backpack. However, once Ruby was ready and the transplant was scheduled, she got Covid. A world-first decision was needed on whether to proceed in those circumstances. Rebecca and Nick were told the leukaemia would kill Ruby, so it was a chance that needed to be taken.
In January 2021, Ruby achieved her goal of returning to school at Laceby Acres Academy and she dreams of becoming a nurse. Mabel, who is now affectionately called ‘Mabel Marrow’ by family and friends, is also a Laceby Acres pupil. Rebecca gave up her job whilst Ruby went through treatment, but is now working for the family’s silk wedding flower business, “GroovyRuby”.
Money raised from the Race For Life events will help scientists find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancers – helping to save many more lives. Rebecca said: “We hope Ruby’s story connects with families in the moments before they set off taking part in Pretty Muddy Kids. She and all of us are privileged to have the chance to thank the amazing people who are fundraising to support life-saving research.”
Ruby Leaning is an inspiration to us all. At just nine years old, she has already faced her own battle with leukaemia and come out victorious. Her courage and determination has been rewarded with the opportunity to be the official voice of Cancer Research UK’s Race-for-Life.
Ruby’s story is a reminder of how important it is to support those who are affected by cancer and to help fund research into finding a cure. We can all do our part by entering our children into the Race-for-Life event or by supporting Rebecca’s flower company, GroovyRuby. Let’s join together and show our support for Ruby and all those affected by cancer.
