Kirsty's £1,500 thank-you to Maggie's unit

A TEENAGER who is living with a brain tumour has raised £1,500 to say "thank-you" to a cancer charity.

Kirsty Harrison, 19, from Penicuik, presented the cash to Maggie's Cancer Care Centre on Friday after organising the event at the city restaurant, The Clay Oven. She teamed up with chef and family friend Mohammed Liton to run the charity buffet.

Kirsty, a student at Stevenson College, was diagnosed with a brain tumour aged 11, after suffering blinding headaches and memory lapses. She had to be operated on immediately at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Since then, doctors have found the tumour cannot be treated by surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and they have no idea if it may begin to grow.

Kirsty has to attend regular scans at the Western General Hospital, and has been left with permanent memory loss and balance problems.

But she refuses to let it get in the way of her life, and is planning a career in childcare. She has also thrown herself into fundraising for several cancer charities.

She said: "I just wanted to say thank-you to Maggie's, as they've helped me so much. They do an amazing job with patients and their families."