Hampshire schoolgirl cooks with Jean-Christophe Novelli

Now Edith Coombes, seven, has had her courage celebrated by celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli.

The Hedge End schoolgirl was treated to a festive themed virtual cook-along hosted by the Michelin-starred chef to launch this year’s Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People Star Awards, in partnership with TK Maxx.

She joined a small group of brave young cooks affected by cancer for whom Christmas came early.

The French restauranteur gave them an online masterclass in making his ‘‘Joyeux Noël’’ Christmas pancakes with spiced cranberry sauce.

After his youngest son Valentino was diagnosed with cancer in 2016, Jean-Christophe knows all too well the devastating impact the disease can have on children like Edith.

Jean-Christophe Novelli with his son Valentino

Edith was diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2018, not long after starting in Year R at school and repeatedly coming down with what was initially thought to be a virus.

A bone marrow biopsy eventually confirmed it was cancer and she was admitted to hospital and began intensive chemotherapy.

Edith lost her blonde hair and had to shave her head twice. She also had repeated stays in hospital and underwent regular lumbar punctures which required being put to sleep.

Edith and her family marked the end of her treatment while they were shielding at home.

Edith in hospital

They had to replace the ringing of the bell on the hospital ward with a makeshift banging of pots and pans, on a video call with family and friends.

Dad Lewis, 38, said: “We had always had this endpoint of May 4 – we were going to go to the Piam Brown ward and ring the bell, have a big celebration with family and friends and go to Disneyland. But instead we found ourselves in lockdown, the holiday cancelled and no option of a party.

“It wasn’t quite the ending we had planned, but what lockdown did give us was time to compute everything we were going through and that was helpful for us all to be at home, together."

Mum Kathryn, 37, added: “It’s a relief to have reached the end of treatment, but now we have a new worry and anxiety that it’s going to come back.

Kathryn and Edith with Jean-Christophe Novelli (top right)

"Every ache, pain or high temperature makes you panic, but we know we are not alone in those feelings and it’s something we need to learn to live alongside."

The Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards, in partnership with TK Maxx, celebrate the courage of children and young people across the UK who have been diagnosed with cancer.

Everyone nominated receives a trophy, a t-shirt, a certificate signed by celebrities and a £50 TK Maxx voucher.