THE parents of a teenager diagnosed with leukaemia three months ago are taking on a mammoth fitness challenge to raise money for a charity that has been a lifeline to her.

Lily-Mae Grogan was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in December last year.

It is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow and is more common in adults than children.

The 14-year-old lives on Tranent’s John Crescent with mum Kerry, 45, dad Chris, 55, brother Christopher, 18, and sister Danni, 25.

Lily-Mae, a Ross High School third-year pupil, started feeling tired in about October last year, with Kerry thinking it could have been related to her age or diet.

The symptoms continued for several weeks, with Lily-Mae worried about having a ‘funny turn’ in front of her school peers; this also occasionally led to her being sent home from school.

Mum Kerry then took Lily-Mae to see her GP, where blood tests were taken to see if they could determine what was happening.

It was during this visit that she took another ‘funny turn’ and was sent to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, where she had an ECG test.

More blood tests and another visit to the hospital followed before Lily-Mae was diagnosed with AML.

She is now on her third round of chemotherapy and in the hospital’s haematology/oncology ward, where her treatment continues.

East Lothian Courier: Lily-Mae with her family, this picture was taken on her first visit home after her first round of chemotherapy

Lily-Mae with her family. This picture was taken on her first visit home after her first round of chemotherapy

Kerry, who works in ward six at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, thanked the ward staff, adding that the family all had a very positive attitude. And she praised her daughter’s bravery.

A youth worker from Teenage Cancer Trust serves the ward, helping children and their families with anything they need.

Kerry said the diagnosis was “still quite fresh” for the family but the youth worker had been “very helpful”.

The charity has so far gifted Lily-Mae four different Lego sets, which she has built and used to help keep her occupied during her time in hospital. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, socialising with others in the ward is not allowed.

But now her mum and dad are planning to complete 5,000 lunges over the course of April to raise money for Teenage Cancer Trust.

The challenge is one set by the Trust, with Kerry and Chris wanting to give something back to the charity that Kerry says has been a lifeline for her daughter.

Last month, Teenage Cancer Trust set people a challenge of 2,800 squats in February, with Kerry saying she was “not quite ready” at the time.

But now Kerry and Chris are ready and have been practising their lunges, ensuring they can manage the 167 a day needed to reach the target.

To donate, visit bit.ly/3cHPSXX