Lara Cowpe

Lara is my daughter, she had cancer when she was seven and recieved two years intensive treatment. When she was 16 she decided to get involved with the Charity 'the teenage Cancer trust' this charity has just opened a Unit in Cardiff to treat teenagers witrh cancer. Every day 6 teenagers are diagnosed with cancer in the UK and the condition can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. She has seen been on the Teenage Cancer Trust (Wales) commitee and held the role of secetary to the commitee for a number of years. Last year she had a health scare but thankfully it was found not to be cancer. Lara works full time as an Occupational Therapist but since she became involved with the charity she has rasied more than £20,000 for them, she gives up a lot of time raising awareness about teenage cancer, giving talks in the evenings and attending conferences at the weekend. She raises money for other charities as well for example this year she will run the Cardiff half marathon for Barnardos but teenage cancer is the closest to her heart. She plays music in the local church choir and has been instrumental in setting up a youth forum group in the church. This year she is organising a ball to raise funds for the teenage cancer trust so far she has sold 170 tickets. Since she qualified as an Occupational Therapist she has studied for a Post Graduate Certificate and this year she wants to start work on a PhD the focus of which will be teenage cancer. She always works hard to help others.