TEENAGE cancer victim Sophie Watson has set her heart on making hospital life more bearable for fellow sufferers by raising cash to buy them creature comforts.

Next week, 16-year-old Sophie will undergo painful chemotherapy at John Radcliffe Hospital in Headington, Oxford, as part of treatment to cure cancer in her right lung.

It will be the second term of treatment for the cancer, which she developed last Christmas. Part of her lung has already been removed but the cancer has returned.

When Sophie goes into hospital she will be kept in Ward 4B, with other young cancer victims and says although the staff are first class, the ward is crying out for things to keep the patients occupied.

Sophie, a pupil at Burford School, is no stranger to the ward - she was also treated there when she developed cancer in her right knee two years ago. Her knee joint was later removed and replaced with a metal version.

The John Radcliffe has its own ward for teenagers, the Melanie Richardson Adolescent Unit, but that does not cater for youngsters with cancer.

Sophie said: "During the course of my treatment I am usually in Ward 4B for about two to four days and it can get very tedious, even though the staff are brilliant.

"It has televisions and a video but they're getting old and it would be good to have a more up-to-date computer. "The ward also really needs an ice machine because they give you water to take pills with but it's tepid and not really very nice. Things like that make a difference."

Sophie, who lives in Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, enjoys horse-riding and playing the trumpet, both of which have been made very difficult for her because of the cancer. Her long-term ambition is to go to art college but for now it is to do as much as she can for the children on Ward 4B.

She has been sponsored to shave her head next week - she says she will lose her hair anyway when she has chemotherapy - and has a number of other fundraising efforts taking place.

She said: "I would like to raise as much money as I can. My school is helping out and a very good friend of mine has got her school to help as well."

Her mum, Selina, said: "Sophie is absolutely amazing.

"Cancer is a most horrible thing to go through but she is determined to raise this money."

Burford School is donating proceeds from a ball and a non-uniform day to the fund. Anyone who wants to donate money can make cheques payable to SCCWID (Sophie's Campaign for the Children's Ward for Interesting Things to do) and send them to The Old School House, Lower Swell, Cheltenham GL54 1LH.

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