This article is from page 10 of the 2012-02-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
AN ENNIS woman accompanied her six-year-old daughter to a Valentine’s Day audience with pop superstar Justin Bieber last week.
Aileen Roberts Routh, who is originally from the Kilrush Road area of Ennis, is the mother of Avalanna Routh, the young cancer suffered who last week captured global media attention when she met Bieber in Manhattan.
Avalanna, who suffers from AT/ RT, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer, saw her dreams come true as she played board games and ate cakes with the pop idol.
The once in a lifetime opportunity came about after Avalanna’s sister and her babysitter started an online appeal to have the Boston girl meet the teen singer.
Thousands of people around the world responded to the campaign via social network sites Facebook and Twitter.
The teen singer later wrote on Twitter: “That was one of the best things i have ever done. she was AWESOME! Feeling really inspired now!’ before adding: ‘#MrsBieber really inspired me.”
Another tweet from Bieber to his 17 million followers read: ‘Best part of my day’.
Avalanna’s dream was realised thanks to help from the Jimmy Fund, a charity that has helped children fight cancer for more than 60 years.
Her meeting with Bieber garnered huge public attention in America with family appearing on the popular Today Show .
“It was wonderful, just another fun moment,” said Aileen of Avalanna’s meeting with the singer.
Avalanna was diagnosed with AT/ RT when she was nine months old. AT/RT typically affects the brain, but the tumors can occur on the spine and elsewhere in the central nervous system.
She has received treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. The average survival time from diagnosis is approximately 12 months, according to America’s National Cancer Institute. As a result of an intense, multipronged therapy regimen, developed by doctors and other researchers at the Dana-Farber/Children’s Hospital Cancer Center, a few young children have been cured, while others, including Avalanna, have been given a better shot at long-term survival.
Speaking to American media, Ms Roberts Routh, who has lived in America for the past 10 years, said her daughter has fought a brave battle against cancer. She said, “She’s beaten all the odds. It’s a very aggressive, rare disease, and she’s been in treatment for five and a half years.”