THE first seriously ill youngster to benefit from a free-holiday scheme in Torbay has hailed her experience a huge success.

Sixteen-year-old Hannah Jones has endured three operations in nine months on a cancerous brain tumour, and during the last operation she suffered a stroke.

She now uses a wheelchair because the chemotherapy leaves her so weak, but that hasn't stopped her raising £30,000 for brain tumour research in the past 12 months.

Hannah also featured recently on a BBC2 programme about brain tumours, in which she spoke defiantly about her condition.

However, her illness has meant that her family, from Chester, haven't been able to enjoy a holiday together this year.

That situation was remedied by Luke Tillen, co-owner of the 27-room Hotel de la Mer in Babbacombe, Torquay, who set up Torbay Holiday Helpers Network.

The scheme consists of hotels, tourist attractions and businesses offering free holidays and experiences to families who have terminally or seriously ill children.

As the first family to benefit from the scheme, the Joneses enjoyed a wide array of attractions across South Devon as part of a seven-night break.

Hannah said: "It's been really good. The weather's been fab, and it's been so kind of Luke to organise it.

"I've really enjoyed Woodlands and the Model Village, and I would recommend people go to the Angels tea rooms in Babbacombe. The scones are amazing. We could hardly move afterwards."

The scheme is run in conjunction with National Alliance of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisations, which approached the Joneses about having a free Torbay holiday.

Steve, Hannah's dad, said: "We've very much enjoyed it. It's all been so well organised, seeing as we're the first family to do this.

"It's a really welcome break. We've not been able to have a week away this year, and everybody's been so friendly wherever we've gone.

"Without this offer we wouldn't have got away. It's a good distraction from cancer. It doesn't change anything, but it improves the time you have together."

Luke said he hoped that the Joneses will be the first of many to enjoy the scheme, which he hopes to expand further than South Devon.

He added: "Getting this going is the most rewarding thing I've ever done. It's incredible, and there's no end of members we could have.

"Hannah is a very special young girl, and we'd love to hear from anybody in South Devon who thinks they've got something to offer people like her.

"We just want to make the holidays as special as possible. New members don't have to make regular contributions. It can be just occasional.

"My ultimate goal is to spread the network nationwide. It's an easy thing to set up — it's just a case of putting the families in touch with the facility-providers.

"We're having an attractions pass designed so the families can simply turn up with it and gain entrance.

"We hope to get that in place within a couple of months."

Two other Torbay hotels have already signed up to look after families for free this month and next, and Luke is putting up another family next week.

Any businesses able to contribute to Torbay Holiday Helpers Network should call Luke on 01803 327353 or email him at luke@thhn.co.uk

Alternatively, further information cab be found at www.thhn.co.uk