A Worcestershire student is celebrating the anniversary of a life-saving cancer operation by urging people to come together for World Cancer Day.

Friday, February 4, marks nine years since Ella Gibbs, 19 and from Droitwich, underwent brain cancer surgery.

With life now returned to “wonderful normality”, Ella has praised the vital cancer research which saved her life, in hope she can inspire others to play their part in the fight against the disease.

“All I ever wanted was a normal life. From the moment the cancer was diagnosed I just kept saying to my parents that I wanted things to go back to normal,” she said.

“I know I have been extremely lucky and I’m so grateful for the treatment that saved my life.

“If I had been diagnosed with cancer twenty years ago, the outcome might not have been the same for me – and that’s down to research. I’ve been given the greatest gift of all: a normal adolescence and all the fun and excitement of life as a student. It’s amazing that I’m living the life of a normal 19-year-old.”

Ella was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma in 2013, aged just ten, and received two operations at Birmingham Children’s Hospital before doctors referred her for proton beam therapy.

At the time was only available in the US but thanks to research, this is now available in the UK.

Ella’s family were told she had entered remission in October 2014, and since then she has gone on to compete at Crufts in 2019 with her dog Lulu and last year started at the University of Bath.

To mark World Cancer Day, she wants everyone in Worcestershire to buy a Cancer Research UK Unity Band.

She added: “Wearing one is such a simple way to show solidarity with people affected by the disease, whilst also raising vital funds.”

In Worcestershire and the West Midlands, around 36,800 people are diagnosed with cancer every year.

Cancer Research UK spent over £10 million in the area last year on some of the UK’s leading scientific and clinical research.

Jane Redman, the charity’s spokesperson for Worcestershire, said: “As we mark our anniversary this World Cancer Day, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to Ella and people across the region for their incredible commitment to the cause.”