Brave Dundee teenager Megan Fletcher — who was the inspiration and the driving force behind the Tele’s Bald is Beautiful Campaign — has just been given the “most amazing” news.
Megan, who turned 15 only last week, received the news in Edinburgh yesterday that her cancer is in remission.
“This is the most amazing thing I could have been told,” Megan told the Tele today from her home in Dundee.
“I had to go to the Sick Kids Hospital in Edinburgh yesterday for the results of my scans and they confirmed that I am in remission.
“I am so happy and delighted.
“Life can start to get back to normal now. I can’t wait to get on with the rest of my life cancer free.”
Megan was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma last September after she discovered a lump under her arm. She hoped that it might only be an in-growing hair but her worst fears were confirmed.
Not prepared to give-in to the illness, Megan set off a chain of events that resulted in the incredibly successful campaign she launched with Dundee charity chief Charlie Kean and the Tele.
Less than three months later, we were able to announce Megan had inspired the people of Dundee to raise more than £20,000 for other families who had a child diagnosed with cancer.
It all began when Megan decided to have her head shaved prior to her first round of chemotherapy at Sick Kids.
Megan said: “I knew from the start that I wasn’t prepared to give in to this illness.
“I also wanted to do something to prove that life could continue pretty much as normal, despite a diagnosis like mine.”
She said that Charlie got in touch after she was diagnosed to support her and encouraged her to launch the campaign.
The youngster added: “It was a bit nerve-racking getting my head shaved but I thought by doing that I could beat the bullies.
“I did it right away because I didn’t want people laughing at me and bullying me when my hair began to fall out.
“Charlie and Mum came along to support me and everything else just took off from there.”
Right after the campaign was launched, people from all walks of life began raising money.
Soon, the funds came rolling in and skyrocketed to a total of more than £20,000.
Megan attended and supported as many of the events as she could, even walking across the Tay Road Bridge and helping Santa hand out presents at Charlie Kean’s annual ice show at Dundee Ice Arena.
Megan, who attends St John’s High School, did all this while attending hospital regularly in Edinburgh for chemotherapy.
She added: “To begin with, the chemo wasn’t too bad but as time went on I felt pretty sick sometimes afterwards.
“But I knew it would all be worth it in the end and now I can prove it has been.”
Megan’s mum Shona revealed that going with Megan for her results was the worst thing she has ever had to do.
Shona added: “It was even worse than being told that Megan had cancer.
“Thank goodness the news we got was so good.
“We can’t thank everyone enough for all they have done for Megan. From all the medical staff in Dundee and Edinburgh to everyone who supported Megan through the campaign and helped to raise such an amazing amount.
“We are incredibly grateful to them all.
“We are especially grateful to Charlie Kean for everything he has done for the whole family.
“He has been incredible and has been with Megan every step of her journey with cancer.”