THE family of a teenager who died from a rare form of cancer has unveiled plans to provide respite care for other poorly youngsters.

Trevor and Julie Robson want to build three wooden lodges on grazing land west of Wellbank, in Henshaw.

The Robsons said the scheme would enable children and teenagers to spend quality time with their families, away from hospital.

The couple’s planning application was submitted three years after their 18-year-old daughter Jessica lost her battle with sarcoma cancer, which affects muscles, bones, and soft tissues.

During her illness, Jessica enjoyed caravan holidays on the Northumberland coast with her parents and sister Nicole. Memories of those treasured holidays inspired the lodges plan.

Julie said: “It will allow children and teenagers fighting cancer and their families to have free breaks to spend quality time together and create everlasting memories.

“Jessica was never selfish, she was always smiling and never gave up. She never deserved this awful disease and we want her spirit to live on.”

The couple sold their previous home to buy the site, with an existing house and grazing land, on which the three-bedroom lodges would be built.

The Robsons have also raised money for the scheme through their charity, Jessica’s Sarcoma Awareness.

Set up by Jessica prior to her death, the charity has now raised £160,000.

Half of the money has been donated to two other charities, the Teenage Cancer Trust, and Sarcoma UK, while the Robsons have also supported other families by purchasing presents at Christmas and Easter for teenagers and children in hospital.

Grant funding for the lodges scheme has also been received from the Aviva Community Fund, and the couple have now appealed for other businesses to make contributions.

Trevor said: “We would be grateful for any donations – from landscaping to fixture and fittings.”

To help subsidise the scheme, the Robsons will consider renting out the lodges as holiday lets when they are not being used for respite care.