Alysia is 19 and lives in Belfast. She suffers from a disorder called diamond blackfan anemia.

Diagnosed at 11 her teenage years were tough to say the least with missing school and never really meeting anyone her age who was going through similar challenges.

That was until June 2018 when she went on a sailing trip in Scotland with The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. She has had some great benefits of going on the trip and that is what this episode is all about. She got so much out of it she is returning for a second trip in June 2019.

Alysia is just an inspiration. She also has some very impressive art and balloon sculptures online at her two instagram accounts. Check them out here: 

https://www.instagram.com/alysiapancake_art/

https://www.instagram.com/area_balloons_facepainting/

Have a look at The Ellen MacArthur Trust here: https://www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org/

And Clic Sargent here: https://www.clicsargent.org.uk/