Spice Girl backs brave Annastarzzia

6:20pm Friday 10th October 2008

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ROCK stars are getting behind a Dingestow teenager in her fight for survival.

The Foo Fighters, Spice Girl Mel C, Iron Maiden and Elton John have all donated signed items to raise money for Annastarzzia Dickenson, 16.

She was diagnosed with cancer at 14 and has spent two years fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma in her chest. Doctors say her body is now free of the disease.

But as it recovers, she is on a raw food diet and takes 80 vitamin tablets each day which cost £800 a month. The spirited youngster is funding this by writing to stars.

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood was so moved he sent a signed limited edition print that she is auctioning on her webpage Annie's Survival Fund. She is also auctioning a signed Iron Maiden album.

Other items she has been sent include a signed original Elvis Presley LP available for £2,400 and signed gold disc for Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John.

She is asking £2,250 for this. Annastarzzia has also made and sold 90 organic candles and is planning a raffle next August for items including a signed Foo Fighters watch.

Mel C has pledged a number of items signed by the Spice Girls. On top of this, Annastarzzia is selling a range of jewellery that she designed from her hospital bed.

She called it The Jigsaw Collection in recognition of charities like Latch, Clic Sargent and the Noah’s Ark Appeal which she says "helped put the pieces back together" during her treatment.

The collection is made by the jewellery company owned by mother Lisa Anne, 40 and has raised over £1,000 for the cancer charities. Mrs Dickenson said these efforts shows the "warrior spirit" her daughter has shown since being diagnosed in February 2006.

It followed a visit to the doctors for a sore throat. Within five hours, plans were being made to treat Annastarzzia for Hodgkin’s lymphona at the Childrens’ Hospital for Wales, Cardiff. While Mrs Dickenson, father Stuart, 37 and step-brother, Jake, 13, were in shock, Annastarzzia was determined to stay positive.

Through six months of chemotherapy from February 2006 and a further three months in 2007, she attended school.

"She had radiotherapy for two months in February this year. Annastarzzia was so determined, she was being sick from the treatment while holding Macbeth in her hand and revising for her GCSEs," added her mother.

The Monmouth Comprehensive School pupil achieved 15 GCSE passes that included one A* and four As. She is now studying A-level German, psychology, chemistry and biology with hospital check-ups every two months.

Her hair has grown back following chemotherapy and she attends a dance group and gym. Doctors say there is a 38 per cent chance of the cancer returning when she is older, but she is determined to beat the disease.

Details of Annie’s Survival Fund are at lajewellery.co.uk. If you would like to sell raffle tickets, call 01600 740385.