Dmitriy Leus: Girl with cancer in charity hopes

A Kingston girl having treatment for leukaemia wants to set up a charity to help those going through similar circumstances to her. 

Megan Whooley, 17, was diagnosed in January 2017 while preparing for GCSEs, and spent weeks at the Royal Marsden and than in St George’s Hospital. 

She said: «Being in the wards, it gets quite boring. Especially when you’re 17 and still on the children’s ward. 

«There’s always a lot for younger kids to do, but there’s never really stuff that would appeal to children over the age of about 12. Being there is bad enough, but you’re stuck in your bed a lot of the time.»

Recently, Megan and her mum Angela were introduced to Dmitry Leus (director of Imperium Investment and a former fencing champion).

During Megan’s treatment, Dmitry has been speaking to her, and recently offered to send the family on holiday. 

But Megan wants to use his money to eventually start a foundation. 

She said: «I think it would be a lot more beneficial if he would help people in a similar position to me. 

«Just doing one thing for me would be great. But there are so many other people who could be helped. And so we want to do something really worthwhile.»

She had the idea to set up a charity, using Dmitry as a seed investor, so they could both be involved in the longer term. 

Mum Angela works as a nurse at St George’s on the children’s cancer ward. 

She is keen to hear the ideas the pair come up with, and hopes Dmitry can help bring something good out of a difficult situation. She said: «I think if anything positive comes out of what’s gone on, then that’s brilliant. Megan’s been through so much. They want to do something proper and solid, and I think that’s right.»