SHE’S back! Brain tumour victim Emily Rhodes has flown home to York from Australia for an emotional reunion with friends and relatives.

The 22-year-old paid an emotional tribute yesterday to hundreds of York well-wishers who have raised £8,000 so far to help fund the trip.

York Press:

Emily, formerly of the Monkton Road area, who emigrated with her family to Perth four years ago, told The Press: “It’s hard to explain what it means to be back. I just wanted to be back where I grew up and with all my friends.

“It’s just lovely to be back in York and I can’t wait to see everyone.

“I feel humble and overwhelmed by everyone’s support. It’s just lovely how they are all here for me. I just feel so loved and humble.”

Emily flew back with her mother Joanne, father Martin and brother Matthew on Thursday, in the face of doctors’ advice not to fly, and coped well with the gruelling journey.

The family will be staying in holiday accommodation just inside the Bar Walls in Bishophill for more than three weeks.

Emily is set to attend a big reunion party at the Marygate Working Men’s Club in Marygate next Saturday evening.

She also wants to visit her favourite places in North Yorkshire, including the Minster and Whitby, and possibly go on a trip to London.

Emily was diagnosed last year as being terminally ill with a brain tumour and decided she wanted to return to the city where she grew up to meet up for one final time with her old friends, and also relatives who did not move to Australia.

Friends launched an appeal earlier this year to raise £5,000 towards the cost of the trip.

The appeal total reached £8,000 last Sunday after a successful family fun day held at New Earswick Sports Club raised another £1,500, and more is set to be raised tomorrow afternoon at Cresfest, an arts and crafts fair being held at the Crescent Community Venue off Blossom Street.

Julia Hebbron, an old friend of Joanne’s, is planning to run a cake stall and a charity raffle at the event.