Cork teen Elsie Hayes heads to Disneyland Paris after cancer battle

Thirteen‑year‑old Elsie Hayes from Kinsale will travel to Disneyland Paris on 11 October as part of the Cork City Hospitals Children’s Club annual holiday.

Elsie, who started secondary school at Kinsale Community School in December, was diagnosed with cancer that month after a tumour was discovered during a Zoom appointment. She underwent intensive surgery and a six‑day chemotherapy course that finished in March, while also managing type 1 diabetes.

The trip was arranged after the diabetic team at Cork University Hospital nominated her for the charity’s holiday, which recognises “remarkable kids and teens for their bravery” and is supported by volunteers, including doctors and members of An Garda Síochána.

Elsie will travel from Cork Airport with 66 other children, providing a welcome distraction after months of hospital appointments. Her mother, Cora Hayes, thanked the medical staff at CUH and Crumlin, as well as the wider community, for their support.

Despite the challenges, Elsie says the diagnosis has not changed her outlook, noting the importance of family, friends and the small gestures that have helped her through treatment.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Thomas Evraert / Pexels.