Young girl from Sandwich battling cancer switches on new 'Northern Lights' show at Westwood Cross in Broadstairs
Published: 12:49, 11 December 2020
Updated: 14:42, 11 December 2020
A young girl battling bone cancer has switched on a shopping centre's projected 'Northern Lights' show.
Harmony Morgan-Young, who has Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer that eats away at bone and surrounding tissue, was invited to Westwood Cross in Broadstairs to receive a special surprise.
Joined by mum Rebecca, dad Aaron and brothers Marley, seven, and Ralphy, five, nine-year-old Harmony was asked to switch on the centre's new Christmas lights spectacle.
The new Northern Lights show occurs 4pm daily until January 6 in the Compass area of the centre, located near Debenhams.
Until Christmas eve, the free, projected show includes a glimpse of Father Christmas as he flies across the night sky.
Harmony, who collects teddy bears sold by H Samuel to raise money for CLIC Sargent, a charity supporting young people with cancer and their families, was also surprised with a collection of the bears.
A hamper was given to her parents and gifts were donated by Westwood Cross, Greggs and M&S.
Francesca Donovan, centre manager, said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to bring a little bit of Christmas magic to a special local family.
"The children helped to switch on our new Northern Lights display with a fantastic Christmas countdown, and colleagues around the shopping centre gave the family the most wonderful gifts."
Harmony, from Sandwich, attends the University College London Hospital every two weeks for chemotherapy and is also undergoing radiotherapy.
She faces having her arm amputated from the elbow to stop the cancer returning as it's feared too much damage has already been done to the bone.
Despite her gruelling schedule of treatment, dad Aaron says Harmony is "always smiling", adding: "I don't know how she does it, if it was me I wouldn't want to get out of bed in the morning."
Since being diagnosed, she has also raised thousands of pounds for charity.
The Northern Lights show will run daily from 4pm-8pm and has been specially designed to take place several times an hour, ensuring there is no need for visitors to gather to watch the projections and social distancing can be maintained.
The centre’s Christmas display has also been enhanced, with two new light installations consisting of giant walk-through baubles.
The main mall hosts the Christmas market and the Viking Ship is once again home to the centre’s much-loved giant reindeer.
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Marijke Hall