Cancer survivor Megan, 20, lunches with inspirational ladies (From Southend Standard)

Cancer survivor Megan, 20, lunches with inspirational ladies

2:00pm Monday 29th October 2012 in Echo News

INSPIRATIONAL Megan Blunt was the only youngster on her ward to beat cancer, but from diagnosis to defeating the disease she has been fundraising and campaigning to help other sick children all the way.

The 20-year-old, from Billericay, was handpicked to attend the prestigious Women of the Year lunch in recognition of her tireless fundraising for bone cancer charities after beating a rare form of the disease, osteosarcoma, at the age of 12.

She joined 400 other women at the prestigious event and was handpicked to attend.

She said: “I was in a state of shock when I received my invitation.

“I’ve met so many inspiring people through my work and never thought of myself as one of them.

“I can’t believe I was thought of, let alone invited.”

Despite receiving the shocking news after being misdiagnosed twice she started campaigning to raise awareness about childhood cancer and supporting charities dedicated to finding a cure straight away.

Throughout her treatment and even after undergoing surgery she was tirelessly fundraising.

After overcoming the disease she wrote a book in memory of her friend Nathaniel who died in 2006. Since then Chemotherapy, Cakes and Cancer has been translated into five languages and is now provided free of charge to children diagnosed with cancer in the UK.

As part of her efforts Megan has also been running a hospital food campaign since 2008 called A Meal When You Want, also known as AMY, in memory of her friend Amy Wallace, which provides meals for young cancer patients at the University College Hospital London.

As part of the campaign she has convinced Tesco to provide microwavable meals to allow a greater variety of food to be provided for younger patients and more flexible meal times.

Megan, who is now in her third year at Warwick University, was awarded a Pride of Britain Award in 2007, and this year she was an Olympic torchbearer.

As the only survivor from her cancer ward, Megan carried the flame on behalf of her friends who lost their lives.

She is also a member of the Bone Cancer Research Trust and advises it on the material it issues to patients to make sure it is easy to understand.

The event was held at the Intercontinental Hotel, in London, on Monday, October 22.