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'Fierce' Chloe to celebrate 21st with charity ball

Richard Madden,East Yorkshire and Lincolnshireand
Rachel Royce,in Grantham
BBC A woman with glasses sits in a wheelchair in a kitchen. She is wearing a colourful skirt, black top and is holding medical equipment.BBC
Chloe Russell, 20, has been described by her proud parents as "fierce"

A woman who has spent her life in and out of hospital will use her 21st birthday celebrations to help other young people with long-term illnesses.

Chloe Russell, from Grantham, has neurofibromatosis type 1, an incurable genetic condition that causes tumours to grow on her nerves and skin. She is also registered blind and uses a wheelchair.

In September, she will host a gala ball at Kelham Hall, near Newark, to raise money for the Make-A-Wish UK charity.

Chloe said: "I'm massively looking forward to it. It's all about having fun, it'll help me forget about my medical problems and raise money for an amazing cause too."

Russell family A woman lays in a hospital bed with her head on a pink pillow covered in hearts. Various tubes and medical equipment is visible on her neck. She has her eyes closed and is wearing a grey t-shirt covered in white letters.Russell family
Chloe has spent most of her life in and out of hospital undergoing major operations

According to Chloe's parents, their daughter had "more or less lived in hospital" since the age of five and had a "particularly tough year".

Chloe organised a similar ball in 2019 after undergoing dozens of brain surgeries and missing nearly a year of school.

Her father, Pete, has been tasked with decorating her wheelchair to help her be the belle of the ball.

"There's going to be lots of glitter, I'll be festooning it with lights and anything else I can fit on it," he said.

"She'll look amazing when she's on the dancefloor. Chloe is fierce and the pride we have for her is completely unbounded."

Chloe Russell A woman wearing a bright red ballgown smiles as she is covered in paper confetti. She is surrounded by other people wearing formal clothing.Chloe Russell
Chloe has taken part in several fundraisers including charity balls, sponsored walks and a head shave

In the run-up to her latest fundraiser, Chloe said one of the biggest decisions would be choosing the colour of her ballgown, but her mum, Paula, said it would be a bittersweet moment.

"We love shopping together, but it hurts when she can't go and try dresses on like she has done previously," said Paula.

"We're learning to adapt and we'll make sure she looks absolutely stunning on the night.

"She is the reason I get up every morning and she takes my breath away."

Chloe Russell A woman wearing a black padded jacket and t-shirt smiles into the camera. She is surrounded by the Kaiser Chiefs band who are also smiling.Chloe Russell
Chloe struck up a friendship with the Kaiser Chiefs, who have raised awareness of her condition

Chloe has previously shaved her head to raise money for charity and held sponsored walks before she needed a wheelchair.

The 20-year-old said the proceeds of her latest event would give other young people "memorable experiences" after she was given a two-night stay in Manchester by Make-A-Wish UK.

Chloe added: "It was out of this world and more than I could ever imagine. I made special memories with my parents and it's something I'll never forget."

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