Inspirational Jodie launches foundation to help other cancer sufferers

But the brave teen has already had to face more than most would in a lifetime.

After a chance trampolining accident while at school the youngster was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare cancer of the bone.

After a bout of chemotherapy doctors eventually decided that she would have to have her right leg amputated, and she had her operation on August 14.

But rather than let all of this get on top of her, Jodie is fighting the disease and has also decided to campaign for those affected by cancer by setting up her own charity.

The Jodie Lou Foundation aims to raise cash to help children who have needed to have limbs amputated due to cancer, and is hoping it can achieve charitable status soon.

With the money raised, Jodie will be the first recipient of state-of-the-art prosthetics that are currently not available to children on the NHS, and in the future she wants to see her organisation do the same for other kids.

The George Salter Academy pupil, from Dunkirk Avenue, West Bromwich, said she was determined to help others who are in her situation.

She said: "When I found out I had cancer I obviously broke down, but as soon as I got the emotional part over I just had to think positive, because there's nothing else I can do to stop it from happening.

"I've had my down days where I didn't want to be in hospital and I didn't want it running through me, but I've just not had to think about the negative bits.

"That's helped me get through what I've got through.

"I think the foundation is great because if another person's in my situation, they will want the best leg or limb possible, so this will help families that are not able.

"I think it would be great to have what all the soldiers are having, I think children should have the same.

"As soon as we have a charity number we can set a proper charity up, and try to advertise our foundation to make it more popular, so more people know about it and we will be able to find other people limbs."

Bone cancers are rare with only about 530 new cases each year in the UK. There are several different types of bone cancer. Osteosarcoma is one of the most common types and usually develops in growing bones. Although it can occur at any age, it's most commonly found in teenagers and young adults. Any bone in the body can be affected, but the most common sites are the arms or legs, particularly around the knee joint.

Jodie says her family and friends have all be very supportive, with her school even offering to do fundraising activities such as non-uniform days to held her cause.

Her mother Leasa, aged 41, said she was proud of her daughter's determination: "Jodie has been fantastic, she's such an inspiration it's unreal.

"Any other 14-year-old I believe would be thinking their life was over, but Jodie has channelled that negative and turned it into a positive.

"She's moving on and wants to help other people in her situation, so that's when we decided to set up the foundation."

Jodie's condition was diagnosed after she banged her leg while trampolining at school.

The doctor initially gave her some gel to rub on her aching knee injury, suspecting that she had twisted or torn a ligament.

But eight weeks laterJodie was still in pain, and she was sent for an x-ray which is when the cancer was discovered.

She has since undergone one course of chemotherapy and last week started another.

Mrs Millard said: "They didn't know how long she had it for, and they say it's caused by growth spurts.

"If it hadn't been spotted it would have just spread, we don't know how far it would have gone before we found out.

"I feel it was lucky, because we caught it early and it was a small tumour at the time."

People can keep up to date with Jodie via social media.

As part of the fundraising drive people can buy keyrings for £5 plus postage and packaging.

Anyone wanting to find out more can search The Jodie Lou Foundation on Facebook, or see @thejodieloufou1 on Twitter.