Colney Heath teen on a mission to deliver care bags to cancer patients

Lexie Trim,14, has had seen first-hand the debilitating effects of cancer having lost her nan to the disease.

Last April, her mum Emma was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer, six months after her auntie was also diagnosed with the same disease.

While Emma and Lexie live in Colney Heath, Lexie's auntie lives in Clacton, where she has benefitted from the 'comfort bags' provided to patients - a service not provided to patients in Hertfordshire.

Making the bags takes a whole day for Lexie and her mum (Image: Emma Trimnell)

Hearing of her auntie's experience, Lexie was inspired to make a difference and provide care bags to patients at Stevenage's Lister Hospital, where Emma is undergoing chemotherapy.

Emma explains: "Lexie decided to make her own bags to give to patients at Lister to provide them some comfort. They have certainly provided me with a lot of relief when going through my chemo."

The bags include a range of items including fruit teas, mouthwash, puzzle books, cosy socks, sweets and various creams that help soothe patients after the effects of chemotherapy.

Lexie hopes to expand the project across Hertfordshire. (Image: Emma Trimnell) She said: "A lot of the patients have said that the bags have made their day - we've had people in tears.

"I am so proud of her and everything she's done. She spends a whole day making the bags up and we regularly go shopping to get the items for the bags."

Lexie is hoping to deliver the bags every six weeks, having made a trip to Lister at the beginning of July and another on Friday (August 23).

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Lexie said: "I've been inspired to help patients here to have the same comfort that patients in Clacton have.

"It's so nice to see how much of an impact such a small thing can have - sometimes when the patients cry it makes us cry!"

Lexie with the nurses at Lister hospital. (Image: Emma Trimnell)

Lexie has a JustGiving page and an Amazon Wishlist for anyone wishing to help donate to the cause.

She added: "It helps me cope with the way cancer has impacted the family. Helping people is a way of coping with it all."

She is planning a fundraising event with stalls and entertainment in order to boost donations and awareness of the cause.

Going forwards, she's hoping to visit hospitals across Hertfordshire - including children's hospitals.