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NEWS
Hexham Lodges created to
meet last wishes of teenager
A specialist retreat for children and teenagers undergoing cancer treatment and their families,
set up in memory of an inspirational North East teenager, has completed in Hexham.
‘Jess’s Dream’ project has been
inspired by Cramlington teenager Jessica
Robson, who in 2010, aged just 14, was
diagnosed with alveolar sarcoma.
Following chemotherapy treatment,
Jessica later underwent an operation to
have the tumour removed, resulting in
needing the use of a wheelchair.
Further scans found shadows on
Jessica’s chest, which required further
treatment. However, the chemotherapy
Jessica underwent was unsuccessful and,
after celebrating her 18th birthday, she
sadly passed away on May 16th 2014.
Jessica’s mother, Julie Robson, said:
“One of Jess’s wishes while fundraising
and receiving treatment was to raise
enough money to buy a lodge so that
children and teenagers undergoing cancer
treatment could spend time relaxing and
enjoying quality family time with loved
ones.
“Jessica was never selsh, always
smiling and never gave up. She didn’t
deserve this awful disease, but I want
Jessica’s spirits to live on, even if her body
doesn’t. We are one proud family and I
want everyone to know what an
inspiration she was.”
The purchase of the land was funded
by the Robson family following the sale of
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their home, while the construction of the
three chalet-style lodges has been made
possible by the fundraising eorts of
Jessica’s Sarcoma Awareness charity.
Jessica loved fundraising and over her
three-and-a-half-year battle with cancer,
Jessica and her family raised over
£28,000. Jessica’s family set up a charity
in her name; Jessica’s Sarcoma Awareness
which has raised over £200,000. 80% of
the funds raised are used towards
projects like Jess’s Dream and to purchase
special gifts for children and teenagers
who are being treated for cancer. The
remaining funds are split between the
Teenage Cancer Trust and Sarcoma UK.
The Hexham Lodges have been built
with the help of several North East
businesses who have pooled their eorts
to create the modern, comfortable and
luxurious space. Sadler Brown
Architecture has partnered with several
other North East rms to create specialist
lodges in Hexham, designed exclusively
for children and teenagers who are
undergoing cancer treatment.
Tony Harmieson, managing director at
Sadler Brown Architecture, said: “Jessica
was an inspirational young lady and we
are delighted to be involved in fullling
one of her seless, nal wishes.
“We are very proud of the lodges, they
will provide a fantastic space for young
people to enjoy with their families and
loved ones. We hope many people will
make positive and happy memories while
spending time there.”
Sadler Brown Architecture has created
the bespoke chalet style design for the
accommodation. Henry Riley, a
commercial construction consultancy, is
overseeing costing and delivery. John
Gibson, of Gibson Surveying and
Mapping, has assisted alongside WYG, a
Newcastle based multi-disciplinary
consultancy who supported the project
with on planning, landscape, ecology,
drainage and highways and M Design has
supported with the engineering input and
drainage design.
Gosforth Property Services has been
involved in building the lodges since
October. The families came together
when businessowner Russell got in
contact with Jessica’s parents Julie and
Trevor after his wife saw a charity van for
Jessica’s Sarcoma Awareness. Russell’s
brother, Richie passed away from the
same disease aged 33 in June 2017,
leaving behind his eight-year-old son Ale.
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