Woman raises cash for Sheffield hospital which saved her life as a baby

Jess McLennan, aged 27, from Barnsley town centre, was six weeks old when the cancerous tumour was found in her stomach.

The newborn underwent chemotherapy and spent the first few months of her life in hospital.

To say thank you to Sheffield Children’s Hospital, where she was treated, Jess is being sponsored to complete the Plusnet Yorkshire Half Marathon in Sheffield on April 10.

She is due to run with her brothers Dan and Liam .

Jess, an estate agent, said: “Not only did Sheffield Children’s Hospital save my life, but we are getting to that age now where our friends are having children who may need treatment.

“Any one of us could need it at any time so we need to support it.

We just wanted to give something back for everything they did for me and continue to do for others.”

While Jess was being treated in hospital, Liam, who was three at the time, lived with his grandparents.

“I don’t remember it, but mum and dad have told me how awful it was,” said Jess.

“We were away for so long that Liam thought he actually lived at our grandparents.”

Tonya Kennedy, events fundraiser at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Jess and her brothers are a testament to the amazing staff at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, who are inspiring people to fundraise decades after they finish treatment. Every penny raised will help us create world-class facilities.”