Emmerdale’s Eden Taylor-Draper is taking part in a huge challenge to support a charity very close to her and her family.
Eden, who is 28, is best known for playing Belle Dingle in the ITV soap. A few years ago, her family’s world was turned upside down when Eden’s younger sister Francesca was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Francesca was fourteen when she received the news. The cancer impacts white blood cells and can progress quickly in someone’s system, as explained on the NHS website.
After months of treatment, Francesca was given the all clear by doctors. Recently, she celebrated five years of being cancer-free.
The charity Teenage Cancer Trust played a huge part in helping the Taylor-Draper family throughout this journey. Now, Eden is continuing to do what she can to support the foundation, and recently made a huge announcement.
Over on Instagram, Eden shared the news that she’s training for the London Landmarks Half Marathon in aid of Teenager Cancer Trust.
Alongside a variety of pictures of Eden and Francesca, she wrote in the caption: ‘I’m so thrilled to announce that this year, I am running the London Landmarks Half Marathon in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust. 🫶
‘Teenage Cancer Trust means so much to my family. They’re the only UK charity providing specialised nursing care and support for young people with cancer. They fund specialist nurses, youth workers and hospital units within the NHS, so young people with cancer get the sensitive, individual care and support they need.
‘They exist so no young person faces cancer alone, and I am so honoured to represent them at #LondonLandmarks this year.
‘If you can spare anything, please consider donating to this incredible charity by heading to the link in my bio. Your support means the absolute world to both Chessie and me.’
The images Eden shared include some of Francesca – or Chessie as she’s known to her loved ones – in the midst of her treatment, and some selfies with Eden on her healing and recovering journey.
Eden has received plenty of kind and supportive messages in the comments section from her Emmerdale co-stars.
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Shebz Miah, who plays Kammy Hadiq, said: ‘Light work you got this’, while April Windsor star Amelia Flanagan simply called Eden ‘amazing’.
Beth Cordingly, who portrays Ruby Miligan, wrote: ‘What an amazing personal story, thank you for sharing xx amazing honey, well done’.
During an interview with Lorraine in 2021, Francesca explained that at one point, 97% of her blood cells were found to be cancerous, meaning that only 3% of her blood cells were deemed healthy.
While some of the symptoms she experienced were ‘generic’, such as lacking energy, she suffered ‘excruciating’ pain in her legs before finding out she had cancer.
Francesca stressed the ‘massive toll’ having cancer had on her mental health, outlining how at 14 years old, she ‘wanted to be independent’ just like other teenagers her age.
Speaking about how her sister’s diagnosis has changed her own perspective, Eden said: ‘It goes to show the little things don’t matter. As you say as humans we complain day to day about the most pointless, random things, granted but we’re so lucky and blessed.
‘It does hit home when you do go through something like that and life is so precious.
‘So yeah it has changed my mindset.’
