After beating cancer, young mum Ellie is dedicating Clatterbridge Christmas Fairy to daughter Raya 

Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is once again launching its magical Christmas Fairy Appeal.

For its Christmas Fairy Appeal, Clatterbridge Cancer Charity is asking people to dedicate a Fairy to someone special in their lives.

And Ellie Graham doesn’t need to think twice about who hers will be devoted to.

“I am dedicating my Fairy to my beautiful daughter Raya,” says Ellie, “for the joy she has brought into our lives.

“She was too young to understand what Christmas was all about last year, so this year will be extra special.”

But there’s another reason why this festive season will be more magical than ever.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago at the age of 22 and battling though her condition, young mum Ellie adds: “Now I appreciate the little things in life, like spending Christmas with the ones I love.”

Ellie, now 27 from Old Swan, was the youngest person to be diagnosed with a type of breast cancer, Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, in 2019.

“My diagnosis hit me like a ton of bricks,” she admits. “Overnight I went from working full time as a nursery nurse and attending university part-time at the weekends to facing an uncertain future. 

“I never questioned I would get through it. People were shocked at how positive I was, but I think you go into fight or flight mode – and I was in fight.

“I had never really checked my breasts, but I was shocked when a friend at work had her first routine mammogram and they found she had cancer. I went home and examined myself and found a little lump.  Although he was convinced it was a cyst, my GP sent me for a scan at the Linda McCartney Centre in Liverpool.

“Then a biopsy there revealed it was cancer.”

Ellie had a lumpectomy and then three weeks of radiotherapy, as well as five booster sessions. Because her cancer is hormone related, she’s on a 10-year course of medication and she’ll also have to have mammograms every year.

But thanks to the outstanding care she received at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, where Ellie had her radiotherapy, she will soon be able to celebrate being five years cancer free.

“I rang the bell to mark the end of my treatment in February 2020, surrounded by my family and friends, as well as the staff who’d seen me through my journey. It was such a special and emotional moment to share with them all.

“The staff at Clatterbridge were so full of compassion.

“It was difficult going through treatment at such a young age, but the staff gave me comfort in my time of need; they were amazing.

“Living with the worry that my cancer could return as I wait for my results is something I’m learning to live with, but it’s definitely made me a stronger person,” she says. 

“And life has changed a lot for me. I graduated from LJMU in early years development and support, and I’ve been promoted to deputy manager at Ellergreen Childcare Centre in Norris Green.

“Better still, my partner Joey and I welcomed our beautiful daughter Raya into the world in April 2023. (We chose the name Raya because she was our ray of sunshine after everything that had happened).

“And in July this year Joey popped the question, so we are getting married! 

“It’s been an emotional time.  When I was first diagnosed with cancer, one of my biggest concerns was whether I would be able to have children after treatment, so this is going to be the best Christmas ever. 

“I’m nearly five years cancer free, I’ve got my little family, and I’m looking forward to being married to Joey. If you could wrap up the perfect Christmas in a bow, this year’s would be it.”

Ellie is one of many families across Merseyside, Cheshire and beyond who’ll be celebrating together this Christmas, thanks to life-saving treatment provided at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. 

So to help them keep families – like Ellie’s – together they’re asking people to donate to the Clatterbridge Fairy Appeal and dedicate a Fairy to someone special in their life.

For a donation of £40 or above, you can receive a Fairy pin badge.

For £100 or above, you can receive a Fairy pin badge and a limited edition Fairy decoration.

Throughout December, hundreds of Fairies, designed by Wirral artist Emma Rodgers, will be displayed at Clatterbridge centres at Liverpool, Wirral and Aintree, each one representing someone special.

A spokesperson for Clatterbridge Cancer Charity says: “There are many different reasons why you could choose to dedicate a Fairy. It could be in memory of a loved one, to say thank you to a special member of staff, or to celebrate the special people in your life. 

“Each Fairy dedication will help support people like Ellie, going through cancer treatment.

“One in two people will be affected by cancer during their lifetime, but thanks to vital research funded by Clatterbridge Cancer Charity, outcomes for patients continue to improve each year, enabling families to continue making special memories together.”

To make a donation to Clatterbridge Cancer Charity’s Christmas Fairy Appeal, go to the website HERE.

Registration now open for the 2025 Clatterbridge Glow Green Walk. YOU CAN REGISTER HERE.