'Terminal' cancer survivor Gemma's holiday of a lifetime

Exeter’s very special mini-indoor music and performance festival GemFest 2016 takes place on Easter Sunday, March 27 at the Exeter Phoenix.

The event is organised by Gemma Wensley, a brain tumour ‘survivor’ from Exeter, and a committed team of her friends. Gemma has recently returned from a holiday of a lifetime in Australia and New Zealand, a trip she was planning before she was struck down with an inoperable brain tumour in 2009.

Gemma said: “I really did have the time of my life! It was so emotional to finally get to Australia as I have always wanted to go. When I became poorly and I thought I wasn’t going to survive, one of my biggest regrets was that I never went.”

In 2010, Gemma was told her condition was terminal.

“I just thought about my loved ones and about all of the things I hadn’t done with my life, I did consider trying to go to Australia while I was having my treatment but the travel insurance was astronomical!”

The following months involved gruelling treatment and a long emotional rollercoaster ride. Then miraculously, the tumour started to shrink and Gemma improved drastically. Friends organised a surprise indoor festival in 2012 to celebrate the 30th birthday fearing she would not reach that milestone.

“Although she is still receiving treatment related to her illness, she is still here almost 6 years later and is full of life!” said Gemma’s friend and fellow GemFest organiser Susan Luscombe. “To her friends and family she is a true inspiration and with their support and her strength she has been able to fight this cruel disease head on! Her success so far is proof of the benefits of being positive and never giving up.”

Gemma said: “As soon as a got past the five year post diagnosis mark, the travel insurance became affordable so I booked my flights! When I landed in Australia I was so proud of myself that I had got there, and so thankful that I had been given a second chance!” Highlights of Gemma’s trip included staying overnight at Taronga Zoo, New Year’s Eve at Sydney Harbour Bridge and snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef.

“I wasn’t allowed to scuba dive as I didn’t have clearance from a doctor, but even the snorkelling was amazing! - It was like swimming in a fish bowl but with a lot more fish!!!” Gemma, a former pupil at Exeter College, has always been a big live music fan and regularly attended many UK festivals including Glastonbury Gemfest is a festival of two halves.

The daytime (11am-4pm) is a FREE family oriented event, jam packed with activities for children of all ages. These include storytelling, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon modelling, dance performances and workshops and new for 2016 - a pop up chocolate factory, to name a few. There will also be live music from the talented Teenagers Supporting Hospiscare.

The evening event runs from 6pm until late and there will be the usual great line up of live music over 2 stages. Popular local band Carnaby Street will be performing with Jabbrock and Marnie headlining. Also this year, Gemfest has teamed up with dBs Music, Plymouth and their students will be showcasing their work in the Voodoo Lounge and hosting the Silent Disco which proved very popular when it was introduced to the festival last year!

As well as the music, there will be comedy, magic and some other surprises! Entry is £12 and tickets are available on the door or from the Exeter Phoenix Box Office. This is the fourth Gemfest and has so far raised £15,000 in total for local charity Exeter Hospiscare and the Brain Tumour Charity – two charities which supported Gemma through her illness. The event is kindly supported by Wilkinson Grant & Co and Auto Paint Repairs. More details can be found at www.gemfest.co.uk