A NORTHOLT woman will this year celebrate her 21st birthday as well as 15 years of being in remission from cancer as she takes on the RSPCA’s base camp challenge.

Ren Shilcock has always been an animal lover, which is why she is taking part in the 18-day Big Expawdition challenge in September-October.

Just a week before her fourth birthday, she was diagnosed with a Wilms’ tumour, a rare form of kidney cancer which most often affects children under seven.

She spent more than a year in and out of hospital undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

This should be the last year of annual hospital check-ups and, for Ren, the first time she can truly look to the future and embrace it.

She said: “I wanted to do something to celebrate my life and that has been the driving force behind signing up for the Everest challenge.

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"I don’t have anything to be scared of now, so I know I can do this. It’s a fairly terrifying but exciting challenge.”

Her goal is to raise £5,000 for the RSPCA, which plays an important part in her life as she recently became its first apprentice campaigns officer at its headquarters in Sussex.

She volunteered as a dog walker at the RSPCA Hillingdon branch before starting the apprenticeship in September.

Ren has four pet rats, Primrose, Petal, Fig and Oakley, and two guinea pigs, Fern and Nutmeg.

Altogether, it is hoped the RSPCA Expawdition will raise £50,000 to help animals.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ren-vs-everest