Hannah's Story - Little Lifts

Hannah’s Story

Hannah is 16 from Norfolk and is a supporter of Little Lifts after losing her lovely mum Charlotte, who was a beneficiary.

Hannah first learned about Little Lifts when her lovely mum Charlotte received a Box. She was a great supporter of Little Lifts, taking part in focus groups, events, volunteering with Box packing and raising awareness. She sadly passed away in March 2019, since then Hannah and her stepdad have continued to support Little Lifts as Charlotte believed in giving back.

Hannah, now 16, remembers her mum being diagnosed when she was 11 year old, she said ‘it was one of the worst things I have ever experienced. It’s so hard watching someone you love go through something so difficult but feeling so helpless as you can’t take their pain away.’

One day, Charlotte came home with a Box labelled ‘Little Lifts’ after her chemotherapy, she waited for Hannah to get home from school before opening it. Hannah recalls there being an array of different items, ‘there were so many items that you wouldn’t have even thought would be helpful but every item helped her with the struggles of chemotherapy’

Hannah lists items like the chilli oil as her mum lost her taste and struggled eating, the puzzle book which helped with boredom between treatment, as well as the seeds which Hannah and her mum were able to do together and watch them grow. ‘By having things in the box that my mum and I could do together made me feel closer to her.’

Hannah says ‘Little Lifts really does give you that little lift that you need. I have continued to support this inspiring charity, they had made such a big impact on my family and I couldn’t thank them more as I wouldn’t be who I am today without them.

Hannah took part in our Little Lifts Big Dip, her first fundraiser after waiting to be old enough to take part. She raised an incredible £1,210 to help support people with breast cancer.

Hannah says ‘it was really overwhelming’ to raise such an amazing amount ‘I didn’t even think I’d get £50 and woke up to having raised over £1000’.

When asked what it was like taking on The Big Dip Challenge Hannah’s she said ‘cold’ laughing. She followed this with it was really refreshing afterwards and great to take part after wanting to for so long. Whilst she said it was freezing and hurt to begin with, she felt like it was a great achievement, especially knowing the money was going to a good cause.

‘It is a really rewarding thing to do, seeing how much money you can raise. It’s great and feels so good afterwards. I would encourage other people to do it, even if you don’t think you can.’

We can’t thank Hannah and her family enough for their incredible support.