A college in Brent held an event offering beauty treatments to raise funds to pay for potentially life-saving treatment for a student’s seriously-ill sister.
Yasmin Lynott, a Level 1 hair and beauty student who studies one day a week at the College of North West London in Wembley Park Drive, Wembley, and her colleagues made £250 at the fundraiser last week.
Yasmin and her family are desperately trying to raise £44,000 so her sibling Sofie can receive pioneering treatment abroad for a rare form of cancer she is fighting.
The 17-year-old, who lives in Archway with her family, was diagnosed with desmoplastic small round cell tumor two years ago while on a family holiday in Denmark.
Since then the disease has spread from her pelvic area to her bones, bone marrow, kidney, liver, lungs, bladder and lymph nodes which chemotherapy has so far failed to successfully treat.
The family are pinning their hopes on whole-body hyperthermia, a treatment which is only available in Germany and Mexico and a fundraising page has so far raised £42,884.
Members of the public donated money in return for manicures and haircuts from trainee beauticians who also asked fellow students and staff to make an offering.
Yasmin told the Times: “The students in the different hair and beauty classes here are all supportive of each other and it was very nice of them to get together to help.”
Alisha Earlington, a tutor in the department, added: “The class were keen to help and always enjoy putting their skills into practice for paying customers.”
Mette Aarup Jensen, the girls’ mother, said: “I’m really upset and angry and devastated about the whole thing. The money will pay for one treatment which they don’t offer here, only in Germany and Mexico, so the more we get the better so we can continue the treatment if we need be.”
The appeal for funds for Sofie’s treatment is still open and people can donate via justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mette-aarupjensen set up by Yasmin and Sofie’s mother.
When the initial £44,000 target is reached, any further funds will be needed for ongoing treatment and care.
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