Megan Fletcher, flown to hospital for cancer drugs, on the mend

A BRAVE teenager who was treated to helicopter flights to hospital to beat the Forth Road Bridge closure is winning her battle against cancer.

Megan Fletcher and her mother Shona in Sandy Bloomer's helicopter. Picture: Ian Rutherford

Doctors told 15-year-old Megan Fletcher this week that she has gone into remission.

“This is the most amazing thing I could have been told,” said Megan.

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“I had to go to the Sick Kids hospital in Edinburgh on Monday 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 faced gruelling three-times-a-week trips from her home in Dundee to the Sick Kids for chemotherapy when the bridge was closed to traffic last December.

But kind-hearted Sandy Bloomer, owner of Gift Experience Scotland, stepped in and organised helicopter trips for Megan and her mum, Shona.

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.

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.”

Megan became part of a campaign with Dundee charity chief Charlie Kean that raised more than £20,000 for other families who had a child diagnosed with cancer.

She said that Charlie got in touch after she was diagnosed to support her and encouraged her to launch the campaign.

“It was a bit nerve-racking getting my head shaved but I thought by doing that I could beat the bullies,” Megan said.

“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.”

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.”

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.”

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