Lynsey attended a play school which was held in the United Reformed Church Hall, and when she was 5 she went to The Barn school at Much Hadham. Whilst at The Barn she developed her great love of dancing, riding and most sports. She used to go to Jill Barrett's tap dancing classes in Buntingford and took part in many local shows. She also went to Brownies.

Sue describes Lynsey as a very outgoing child who was into everything! She recalls one occasion when Lynsey locked her in the larder and she had to be rescued by a neighbour. She had lovely hair, which was so long she could sit on it. It was her hair that won her the part of "Annie" in the school play! She was very bright academically and also loved poetry, and would often quote quite long poems. At school, she hated sewing. There was one occasion when she and her friend Saffron sewed their skirts together during the sewing lesson for a joke. When the teacher asked one of them to stand up, they both had to stand up.

Because Lynsey always had been so active, when she started to get lethargic it was obvious that something was not right. She kept falling asleep and developed pains in her legs. The family doctor, Dr. Sam MacNamara, referred Lynsey to Dr Stewart at Addenbrooks and he diagnosed that she had a tumour in the pelvic area. Lynsey was 9.

From the outset, Lynsey was aware of how serious cancer could be but she was never self-pitying. She was also concerned that her family and friends should not feel sad. She was determined that life should go on as normally as possible and she kept up her many interests - dancing, swimming and family cycle rides. Her dancing teacher, Jill Barrett, used to visit Lynsey at home. Lynsey went to school as much as possible but had to have time off for chemotherapy treatment. Together with family, friends and school she also found time to do a lot of fund raising for the Children's Ward at Addenbrookes Hospital.

Throughout Lynsey's illness, people were very supportive particularly Dr MacNamara, Nurse Di Bamford and the Macmillan nurses. Nothing was too much trouble for them. The Catholic Church arranged for her to travel to Lourdes in the Jumbulance with a party of sixth formers from St Edmunds College. Sue accompanied Lynsey, as well as Dr MacNamara, and Sue says the experience was quite moving and they made some firm friends. However, Lynsey flatly refused to go naked into the water as others were doing!

Despite missing a lot of school, Lynsey continued to work and was able to secure a sought-after place at The Perse School for Girls in Cambridge. Sue used to take her there on the train. For a time, the cancer was in remission but then a scan revealed that it had spread and there was little more that could be done.

In February 1990, Sue's parents treated the family to a holiday at Center Parcs in Nottingham. Sue said they all had such a lovely time and Lynsey was able to ride and swim. While they were away, Lynsey commented to her parents that it would be nice if every child could have the opportunity of going away like this and not be "poked about" by doctors. Lynsey died at home at Easter, two months later.

Sue and Ian remembered Lynsey's words. They got together with a group of friends and relatives, and the concept of the Lynsey Ivison Trust was formed. Sue said they had a lot of support from Lynsey's Consultant as well as social workers and of course their family and friends, and eventually the Trust was set up as a registered charity. It was decided that its aims should be as Lynsey had wished: to enable children with a life threatening illness (not necessarily cancer) to share a special holiday at Center Parcs with their family, as Lynsey had done.

Sue has contacts with Addenbrookes, Milton Hospice at Cambridge, Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool, Bristol Children's Hospital, Great Ormond Street, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Royal National Heart & Lung Hospital, The Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, St Bartholomew's, the Sheffield Children's Hospital and also with the Sargent Fund. Any of these bodies can contact the Trust and give them the name of a family who would benefit from a holiday, and Sue then contacts Center Parcs to discuss available dates. Center Parcs have been excellent. When families arrive they are given no special treatment and there is no publicity of any kind. They are treated like every other family enjoying a holiday. If for any reason a particular holiday has to be cancelled at the last minute because, for instance, the child is unwelll, Center Parcs will simply re-schedule the holiday and there are no extra charges.

Although the emphasis is on a normal family holiday, the families are not just launched into

Center Parcs without back up. The Trust will pay for a nurse to accompany them and the nearest hospital is made fully aware of the child's condition. Dr Stewart, who originally diagnosed Lynsey, oversees the medical side of things. When a child is put forward for a holiday, Dr Stewart checks with the consultant in charge that it is O.K. to send them off. A lot of professional people put in a lot of effort to make sure that child goes away on holiday.

Dr Stewart became a personal friend of the family and is very much in favour of sending families on these holidays. As he says: "If a child is diagnosed as having cancer, family life breaks down. Other people can be ignored and life is planned around the child's illness. A holiday at Center Parcs is a siesta period and provides a secure, supportive environment away from the stresses of the hospital". Many of the families who have enjoyed a Lynsey Ivison Trust holiday choose to support the Trust afterwards, although there is certainly no obligation for them to do so.

Because Sue and Ian have direct contact with the families of a sick child, this often brings back to them all the trauma and stress which they themselves suffered and Sue says it is difficult to cope at times. However, it all seems worthwhile when she reads the lovely letters which she receives from the families, or the children themselves, after their holiday. She is also uplifted by the children's attitude as they face their illness and have hope. Some people obviously do ask about Lynsey but Sue emphases that the Trust is for families to have a fun holiday away, which the child deserves after being stuck in a hospital ward.

The Trust is run totally by volunteers. Even professional help from auditors and the like is given freely. Sue and Ian run the Trust from their home and are trying to drag themselves into the Millennium by obtaining a computer and a fax machine, providing they do not dent their funds too much and affect the money they have available for holidays. It would be ideal if anyone reading this knows someone who is planning to upgrade their equipment and would like a new worthy home for their present machines.

The Trust's income is solely from fund raising events and thankfully many people are happy to give up their time to help with this. There is a lot of local commitment to the Lynsey Ivison Trust: The Co-Op have arranged a football match and pancake race; Lorraine from Scarletts hairdressers has held fund raising funds over the years and there have been regular family cycle rides, dances, shows, fun runs, and golf tournaments. Ian says door-to-door collections are not a part of their fund raising because they are no fun. All of their fund raising events are enjoyable for the organisers as well as, hopefully, for the people who donate.

The Trust is currently running a Christmas Card competition in conjunction with the hospitals. Children on the Wards have been asked to design a Christmas card. The winning design will be made into cards and sold in packs in time for Christmas so look out for them in the local shops or ring Sue at the number given at the end of this article.

Apart from the holidays, the Trust is currently in the preliminary stages of acquiring a beach hut at either Frinton or Walton. A family may feel that they could not take a holiday but would be able to manage a day trip and could use the beach hut as a base.

Volunteers are always welcomed with open arms! Sue and Ian both have full time jobs (Sue works as a Team Leader for SCOPE). They say the Trust could not exist without the people who give them lots of help behind the scenes. Some volunteers may only help on a very occasional basis, but Sue knows she can pick up the phone to people in Buntingford and say: "I know it may not be your cup of tea, but can you help" and they will. People help for various reasons: some remember Lynsey, and some because they they can see that a child benefits directly. Sue and Ian's daughter Lauren, gives a lot of help in the background, as does all the family. Many of Lynseys's friends still support the Trust and raise funds.

Sue would like to revive the regular newsletter and if anyone would like to be involved in this, or in anything else in connection with the Trust, please let Sue know. She can be contacted on 01763 271042.

An evening of Line Dancing is being held in Buntingford on Saturday 27th November 1999 at Freman College and all proceeds will go to the Lynsey Ivison Trust. As with all Trust events, this is strictly a FUN EVENING so even if you have never done line-dancing before, do come. There will be some teaching for those who would like to have a go. Tickets are £5 from Carol Burroughes (01763 271992) or Sue Ivison (01763 271042).

The foundations for the Trust were laid before Lynsey died. Today, the Lynsey Ivison Trust has grown thanks to the dedication and hard work of Sue and Ian, their family, friends and loyal supporters.

I would like to thank Sue very much for giving up her time to talk to me and I'm sorry if I upset her dog!!

Val Hume