Emmerdale star supported as she opens up about sister's leukaemia battle (original) (raw)
Eden Taylor-Draper raised money earlier this year on behalf of her sister, Chessie
Emmerdale star Eden Taylor-Draper was supported as she spoke with her sister Chessie who was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of 14.
Starring as Belle Dingle since 2005, Eden won the British Soap Award for best young actor in 2007 and won it again in 2013. Over the last couple of years, Eden tackled a difficult storyline that saw Belle trapped in a vicious cycle of abuse at the hands of her husband Tom King.
She finally received justice as the villain was sentenced to three years in prison after subjecting Belle to assault and coercive control in December.
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While she struck up a romance with newcomer Kammy Hadiq, their relationship didn't go very far after she believed Kammy had attacked Vinny Dingle, with fears that she had fallen for another violent man. However, the pair seem to be back on track in latest episodes.
Away from the Dales, Eden took to Instagram earlier this year as she shared that she'll be running the London Landmarks Half Marathon in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust.
The actress then shared how her younger sister Chessie was diagnosed with cancer at just 14-years-old, and uploaded a carousel of pictures of her sibling's journey with the diagnosis.
In a new video with Teenage Cancer Trust, Eden sat down with Chessie as she opened up about her diagnosis. Chessie said: "Yeah, the doctor said, you know, we've found traces of cancer in your blood and I felt like I'd been winded.
"No one is prepared to have that conversation at any age, let alone when you're 14. The word cancer or leukaemia, it's such a scary word because you wouldn't even say it.
"That first week I could not say the word cancer because then it's real." Eden then asked: "But do you think that initial chat was the scariest?"
Her sister responded: "That is like one of the biggest memories and conversations that just stands out to me because obviously it marks the beginning of the next two years of my life of intensive treatment.
"Immediately I was transferred then to the Teenage Cancer Trust ward at Leeds Hospital and it was just such a different atmosphere, they were so lovely and I really appreciated the way that they spoke to me and explained things."
She continued: "I think coming up to the end of that first year of intensive treatment, I was just like, this isn't a life. Like I'm just existing. The support workers, they introduced me to new people and they made me feel confident to start these conversations as well."
Eden was then asked if she has any advice for siblings of those diagnosed. She replied: "Be as normal as you can be. Also bring so much light and just chat about your day apart from that."
Chessie added: "Siblings shouldn't feel guilty if they can't, you know, cope with it. You can't be expected to put on that brave face all the time."
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
