Young girl with brain tumour, 11, wants to meet every 'Kirsty' in Portsmouth as she raises money for charity
Kirsty Waugh was diagnosed with a brain tumour two years ago.
A young girl who has been diagnosed with a brain tumour is looking to make friends with every single Kirsty, or Kirstie, in Portsmouth and beyond.
Kirsty Waugh, 11, was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour in November 2024, and has been receiving weekly chemotherapy since. But while simultaneously fundraising for charity, she is now trying too connect with as many of her namesakes across the country as she possibly can.
So far, Kirsty has found more than 7,000 Kirstys and Kirsties in the UK, but just 37 from Portsmouth and 235 across Hampshire as a whole.
Last year, she raised £65,000 for a children’s cancer charity; this year, she wanted to focus specifically on research after she learned that only 3p in every £100 of government cancer funding is spent on child brain tumours.
Kirsty’s fundraising efforts are going towards Oscar’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity, which funds research and provides tailored support for families affected by paediatric brain tumours.
Kirsty said: “Treatment is tough for all kids with brain tumours: I’ve lost a lot of hair, had blood transfusions, gone to hospital a lot - that’s why research needs to be done to find kinder treatments.
“Only 3p in every £100 of government funding into cancer research goes to help children like me.”
Her father, Mat Waugh, added: “Every time a Kirsty or a supporter is added to the map, and every donation made, gives Kirsty a lift. It's such a difficult time for her and us as a family.
“It is amazing that she will be responsible for helping to fund research, but it is doubly-amazing that people are taking time out to think of her and put a big smile on her face when she needs it most.”
Kirsty’s fundraising efforts have even caught the attention of celebrities with the same name. The youngster has met TV presenters Kirstie Allsopp and Kirsty Gallacher, children’s author Kirsty Applebaum, and UK badminton number one Kirsty Gilmour.
People named Kirsty or Kirstie can add themselves to the campaign by going to mynameiskirsty.com, and you can follow Kirsty’s campaign and journey via her Instagram page, @mynameis.kirsty.