Lucy’s story

Lucy had played tennis with her dad every Saturday morning. While she was in hospital, her family arranged for wheelchair tennis champion Alfie Hewett to send her a message. When Lucy was well enough, he met her in Norwich for a hit and encouraged her to try playing in a sports wheelchair.

A few months later, Alfie invited the family to watch him compete at Wimbledon. Lucy’s mum, Helga, recalls: “Being up close and watching them play, Lucy said, ‘That’s much more difficult than normal tennis.’ Then she said, ‘I think I’d like to do that.’” 

With Alfie’s guidance, Lucy attended a Lawn Tennis Association “come and try” session in Norwich. She was given a chair and encouraged to find a coach. Just two months later, she took part in a national talent event and was selected for the national under-14 wheelchair tennis programme—one of only eight young players chosen from across the country. 

“From there, our lives have been pretty much tennis—but in a good way,” says Helga. “It’s given both of us structure, hope, travel and completely different experiences.” 

Lucy still has regular procedures to lengthen the prosthetic limb in her leg as she grows. Throughout treatment, Lucy and Helga were supported by a Young Lives vs Cancer Social Worker, who visited them on the chemotherapy ward at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. 

“He would come and talk to me and Lucy, or just me on my own, to find out if we needed anything,” Helga says. “It was a friendly face who was separate from the cancer and treatment—someone I could talk to who could also point us towards practical help.”

That support was particularly important because Lucy was treated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Helga says: “Without Young Lives vs Cancer, it would have been even more isolating. As a parent, you spend a lot of time hiding your feelings from your child and loved ones. Having someone I could be completely honest with—a sounding board, a resource and a source of human contact—helped me a lot.”

Lucy has recently competed for team GB in Belgium in the Junior World Team Cup. She is number six ITF under 18 girl and National Women’s Champion.