Inspirational Sheffield teenager with rare bone cancer appointed youngest ever vice-president of rugby club

A teenage girl with a rare and aggressive form of bone cancer has become the youngest honorary vice-president in Sheffield RUFC’s history.
Lulu BlundellLulu Blundell
Lulu Blundell

Lulu Blundell, 17, was a keen rugby player for the club’s Sheffield Swans team before she was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma at the age of 15 – a disease that took her lower left leg.

Last year she raised £45,000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that she claims she owes her life to, and is now fundraising for other charities that help young people with life-altering conditions.

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Regarding her new honorary position, Lulu said: “I was overwhelmed, I was just quite touched by it all. It was all very humbling and surreal.

Lulu BlundellLulu Blundell
Lulu Blundell

“My whole life I’ve been really into sports, I joined rugby and I just knew it was the sport for me. Some of the people that saw me in hospital the most were girls from my rugby club, they’ve helped me through everything.

“I feel like it’s an inspiration to people around me to spread kindness and happiness and to appreciate the things that can be taken for granted.”

Lulu’s parents, Carolyn and Stephen Blundell, have said they feel a duty to repay the Teenage Cancer Trust and Weston Park Hospital, where Lulu was treated. Mrs Blundell, 51, said: “We’ve had some very dark days. It’s news no parent ever wants to hear.

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“We now have an obligation to raise awareness and do our bit for charity. If we can get one young person to go to see their GP because they’ve got a lump, it’s important.”

Lulu BlundellLulu Blundell
Lulu Blundell

Lulu was awarded her vice-presidency through a video message which included messages from World Cup winners Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken, veteran commentator Ian Robertson and former England cricket captain Michael Vaughan.

Nigel Parsons, 65, the President of Sheffield Rugby, described Lulu as the most deserving vice-president the club has ever had.

He said: “Lulu is a fantastic human being. Her story is amazing, she’s just a complete force of nature and inspiration.

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“Normally you give vice-presidencies to people as a thank you for all they’ve done for the club. It’s meant to be an honour to them, but truth be told it’s an honour for us to have Lulu at our club.”

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