Keira was diagnosed with leukaemia at 14. I had a cousin who was diagnosed with leukaemia as a teenager, and he sadly died a few years later. I was just a couple of years younger than him at the time, so that experience came flooding back to me. It would all play out in my head, but treatment and technology have vastly improved since that happened.
When we got the news about Keira’s leukaemia, her siblings were all scared and nervous. I was trying to reassure them everything will be okay. That she'd have to stay in hospital for a while and have treatment, then she’d come home when it was safe to and be around the rest of them.
They'd say to tell Keira they miss her and love her. They all changed from fighting, squabbling kids to caring for her. It was nice to see them show their caring side.
Hayley and Keira were at school together, and Hayley would get asked questions about what was going on. Some people were genuinely nice, but there were others who said Keira was faking it and said she shaved her hair off for sympathy. I don’t know why, but sometimes you don’t understand how people’s brains work.
Much-needed support
The hospital was confident Keira would get through it and lead a normal life after. It was while in the hospital that Keira heard about the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, who she’s now enjoyed three adventures with. She was nervous before her first trip, as she hadn’t done anything like it before, and she hadn’t even been out of the country. First time flying, first time being on a boat. But she came back better, a bit more confident. She was glad she went, and she’s met so many nice people. She’s made friendships and stays in contact with others she was on previous trips with.
Last summer, she joined one of its sailing trips. At the same time, her three younger siblings were benefitting from the charity’s special siblings-only adventure, in the Brecon Beacons, too. These trips give siblings a place they can go and meet others who share their experience of having a brother or sister with cancer.
When we talked about Hayley, then 15, Aden, then 14, and Andrew, then 13, all going on a siblings’ adventure, they were a bit hesitant. I said to go and meet new people, but they felt shy and awkward. Keira convinced them to give it a go in the end, and they're glad they went. It was fun and they're still in contact with people they met, too.
Andrew, Keira, Hayley and Aden
It got them away from me hanging over them. They could have time as a group, and build a stronger bond. At home they wouldn’t bother with each other a lot, but on their trip, they had each other’s backs, and could talk to each other and give each other comfort. Part of a crew is being a team and relying on each other, and that brought them together. It’s nice there’s people who can help and take them away to have a bit of fun and take the pressure off.
They'd say to tell Keira they miss her and love her. They all changed from fighting, squabbling kids to caring for her.
On the parent side, the last few years have been emotionally draining, carrying all that weight and trying to be strong for the kids. All of them having their own thing has given them a confidence boost and a push to do stuff they didn’t think they could. I’d recommend these trips to anyone.
Hayley Calvert
From Contact magazine issue 111 | Summer 2026
