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Girl, 10, with liver cancer starts charity to help sick children

Sarah EasedaleBBC Wales
News imageBBC A woman in her 30s with dark long wavy hair, olive skin and brown eyes sits next to a girl of 10 with short brown hair which is braided on top, and she is wearing black framed glasses. They are sitting on a grey sofa both smiling at the camera and are both dressed in burgandy coloured tops, the wall behind them is painted cream. BBC
Jasmine and her mum Danielle know how special it is to spend time away from hospitals doing something fun

A 10-year-old girl diagnosed with liver cancer has launched a charity to gift other sick children days out.

Jasmine, from Rhyl, Denbighshire, was inspired to start Jazzy's Gestures by her own need for things to look forward to after long spells in hospital.

She said she wanted others to have the same experiences and "make memories... without worrying about the money".

Helped by her mum, Danielle, and her friends, Jasmine's charity has raised about £20,000 and helped 15 families so far.

Jasmine was diagnosed with liver sarcoma in November 2023 and has been in and out of hospital dozens of times for appointments, chemotherapy treatment and surgery.

From May to July this year, she had seven separate admissions for heart failure.

Danielle said her daughter had missed family outings and doing the things she enjoyed during her time in hospital, sometimes having to spend 72 hours on an IV for chemotherapy.

"[She] couldn't even go downstairs. She got cabin fever and would be really emotional come day three. She'd be really, really sad," said Danielle.

It was because of her experience that Jasmine founded the charity.

"When I was actually well enough to go out and do stuff, I wanted to just have nice days out," she said.

"So I thought, why not do it for other children?"

News imageDanielle Roberts A 10 year old girl sits in a purple hospital armchair. She is wearing pyjama shorts and a t-shirt with a baseball style logo that reads London 36. She is wearing a black head scarf with white polka dots and glasses and is attached to medical machinery with tubes. She looks sad but is making a thumbs up with one hand and holding a green bowl in the other.Danielle Roberts
Jasmine has spent long spells in hospital, sometimes unable to leave the ward for days

Jasmine explained charities often offered vouchers for "certain places" at "certain times", so wanted Jazzy's Gestures to be different by letting the child choose the day out they wanted.

So far, the registered charity has offered trips to an aquarium, theme parks, a zip line, and an afternoon tea.

News imageA woman with a mustard coloured jumper and blone hair tied back into a ponytail sits next to a bed with pink and white striped covers. She is wearing a plastic apron and blue surgical gloves and is unwrapping a syringe for a blood test. A girl of 10 sits on the bed holding the line which is ready for the test. She has short brown hair and glasses and is wearing a burgandy top and white joggers. There is a large stuffed toy, a grey rabbit, on the bed behind her.
Jasmine still has regular visits and checks at home with a specialist nurse

Jasmine's specialist paediatric oncology nurse, Ellen Moseley, described the 10-year-old as "remarkable" and "bright and happy", despite her illness.

"At times she's been quite poorly, needed a lot of supportive care, blood transfusions, lots of chemotherapy, lots of different treatments and surgery as well," she said.

Ms Moseley described Jazzy's Gestures as "amazing", particularly for the way it considers the needs of children who might, for example, be immunocompromised.

"It's nice that they tailor the day out that suits them and have that special time with their family. It's really, really important," she added.

News imageA 10 year old girl with short dark hair, a burgandy top and white joggers kneels at a pale wood coffee table which is covered with felt pens, magazines and story books. A large brown paper gift bag is on the floor next to her. A woman with long dark wavy hair and a burgandy top is the kneeling at the end of the table looking at the child. There is a pale grey sofa behind them.
Jasmine and her mum also make individual activity bags for children to use during appointments, including items they think each child would like

Jasmine is still undergoing chemotherapy at home but is back at school part-time and staying busy with Jazzy's Gestures.

She is currently making activity bags to keep children entertained during hospital appointments, tailored to their likes and hobbies.

Next, she and Danielle plan to make Christmas hampers for the families referred to them.

"We're trying to make it a bit fun for them," said Jasmine.

"It's nice to help."

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