Sidmouth teen’s silence to boost mum’s illness fight

A SIDMOUTH teenager whose mum is undergoing treatment for cancer of the lymphatic system raised �240 to boost the hospital unit that has helped her and families in similar situations.

A SIDMOUTH teenager whose mum is undergoing treatment for cancer of the lymphatic system raised �240 to boost the hospital unit that has helped her and families in similar situations.

Claudia White, 14, and friend Ellen Carpenter (both pictured) netted the cash for the Yarty Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital with a two-day sponsored silence.

Claudia’s mum Elaine has undergone six months of chemo-therapy after learning she had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Sidmouth College pupils Claudia and Ellen had classmates read out notes from them as they kept quiet for 48 hours. Claudia said: “I did it because of mum. We wanted to raise money for her and other people going through the same thing or worse.

“Keeping silent was really difficult but was quite fun really. To get �240 was really good, I didn’t expect to raise so much.”

Mum Elaine said: “It’s very typical of Claudia, she always wants to do something to help.”

Elaine, from Bickwell Valley, praised the Yarty Ward haematology unit and has been told the cash will help train nurses and comfort patients.

“Such lovely people work there,” she said.