A teen athlete who thought she was suffering from a muscle strain had her sports dreams dashed after receiving a devastating diagnosis. Maria Lawal was a fit and healthy 15-year-old who spent most of her time after school training.
In 2008, she thought she had picked up a muscle injury while playing basketball, however when the pain became too much to bear, she was rushed to A&E. After going for a scan, she was given the heartbreaking news that she was actually suffering from osteosarcoma - a form of bone cancer.
Maria's life was turned upside down overnight, with the once-active teen swapping sports meets for surgery and chemotherapy sessions, Manchester Evening News reports. More than a decade later, Maria says it is thanks to cancer research and improved treatment that she is still here today, with the entrepreneur now striving to help more people like her battle the disease.
