"Having cancer as a child taught me to always take opportunities when they come along, especially when it comes to research." - Hannah's experience

In 2010, 12-year-old Hannah Baldock from Catterick won a ‘Design a Tie’ competition run by the Yorkshire Cancer Research Ripon Local Voluntary Group. The win marked a moment of joy during a difficult period, as she was undergoing chemotherapy on the children’s cancer ward at Leeds General Infirmary.  

Hannah is now 26 and 12-years cancer-free. Her tie is still worn today - not only by her proud dad, but by Professor Philip Quirke, a world-leading bowel cancer researcher whose life-saving work has been funded by Yorkshire Cancer Research since 1984.  

In 2010, Hannah was diagnosed with B-Cell mediastinal lymphoma, a rare and fast-growing cancer affecting the lymph nodes in the chest. She was in Year Seven and enjoying her studies at a boarding school near Thirsk when she was told she had a large tumour in her chest.

Hannah remembers: “I kept going to the school nurse because I felt constantly unwell and had persistent aches. When I got home for Christmas, my face was swollen and I’d noticed a lump in my neck, so my parents took me straight to the doctor.”

On the 23rd of December - just two days before Christmas – Hannah was told she had cancer. Around the same time, Hannah’s grandmother was also diagnosed with a different form of lymphoma. 

“I’d never really considered you could get cancer at 12, but I remember telling myself to just be mature and it would be alright. Having a similar diagnosis to my grandma meant I didn’t fully grasp how serious it was. I just thought we’d go through it together. Thankfully, she’s also doing well now.” 

Hannah was quickly referred to begin nine months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. Being away from school and her friends was tough, and she faced challenging side effects including shingles, nosebleeds and hair loss.

She said: “I lost a lot of weight and remember crying in front of the mirror because I barely recognised myself. Losing my hair was harder for my mum than it was for me. I tried to stay positive and thought maybe it would grow back thicker and curlier - and it did!”

Hannah spent time on both the children’s and teenage wards at Leeds General Infirmary, finding comfort in small things like colouring competitions and filmmaking workshops. She made friends with other children on the ward, including one girl who would later join her on a trip to Lapland.

One standout moment was winning the tie competition run by the Yorkshire Cancer Research Ripon Local Voluntary Group. Interviewed at the time, Hannah said: “I’m very pleased that my tie won, I’ve never really won anything like this before. Winning has motivated me to keep doing what I can to help others.’  

Hannah’s vibrant blue design was printed on high quality silk and the ties were sold to raise funds to support the work of Yorkshire Cancer Research. Her dad, now a headteacher, still proudly wears it at school. Another fond supporter of the tie is University of Leeds bowel cancer researcher Professor Philip Quirke, who continues to wear it at cancer research conferences and events. 

Thanks to supporters, Yorkshire Cancer Research has been funding research and saving lives since 1925. 100 years on, the charity remains dedicated to finding new cancer cures and treatments, and bringing them to people in Yorkshire and beyond.  

Now 12 years after completing treatment, Hannah continues to live life fully, with her cancer experience remaining a meaningful part of her life. She has annual health checks and scans, as well as regular breast screenings and flu vaccines.

She said “Having cancer as a child has given me a weakened immune system, which means I tend to get ill more often than most people. The fact I get extra health checks and vaccines is a reminder that I’m not quite like everyone else, but more than that, it’s a blessing. I know how important early diagnosis is, so having annual checks gives me peace of mind.”  

Having directly benefited from both, Hannah feels strongly about the importance of cancer research and clinical trials to help people affected by cancer. 

Yorkshire Cancer Research is funding 25 clinical trials, giving thousands of people in the region the opportunity to take part in pioneering cancer research. The charity funds £64m of pioneering cancer research and innovative services. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire and beyond.

Hannah graduated from York St John University with a degree in History in 2020. A self-confessed bookworm, she now works as a Senior Assistant at Stamford Library and enjoys attending literary talks, travelling around Europe and going to music concerts.  

She enjoys days out in Yorkshire, including exploring The Shambles in York and revisiting nostalgic childhood spots like Fountain’s Abbey and Brimham Rocks.  

Reflecting on the importance of funding cancer research in Yorkshire and beyond, Hannah concluded: “If I had been diagnosed 20, or even 10 years earlier, my life could have been very different.