Cold Feet actor and BBC Radio 1 presenter Cel Spellman joined the event, which took place between 9-11am, to help Santa hand out presents to the children. Families were also treated to a buffet breakfast, face painting and a special appearance from Frozen character, Elsa. Ruby Tanswell, 10, and sister Rosie, 6, from Denton, Manchester enjoyed meeting Cel Spellman and getting presents from Santa. Ruby was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare soft tissue cancer – in her windpipe at 16 months old. After multiple surgeries, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and proton therapy in America, Ruby finished treatment in 2011. Six-year-old cancer survivor Harlie Hepburn, from Failsworth, Manchester loved getting her face painted and meeting Santa and Elsa. Harlie was diagnosed in September 2016, aged three, with a Wilms tumour, a rare form of kidney cancer. In August 2017, she relapsed and underwent 53 weeks of chemotherapy. She finished treatment in August 2018 and is now 12 months in remission. Mum, Natalie said:
These events are so important to families like ours because they bring happiness and excitement back to our children who have missed out on so many childhood experiences, whilst undergoing harsh treatments. Harlie was so excited to meet Santa and she loved having her face painted. It made her feel like a princess. She just loved the whole experience and all of the excitement surrounding it.Children with Cancer UK is helping families experience the joy of Christmas – free from hospital visits and treatments, through its ‘Breakfast with Santa’ events in Manchester and London. These events aim to ease the burden of cancer at Christmas time and give families a chance to form support networks with other oncology families. To support families affected by childhood cancer this Christmas, to Children with Cancer UK’s Christmas appeal.
