Georgia Harrison has spoken about the “traumatizing” experience of losing her childhood best friend Cenk Fahri to leukemia.
The former Love Island star, 29, has reflected on her close friendship with her “cheeky” and “fun-loving” best friend Cenk and her devastation following his death.
Cenk was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 17 and received a bone marrow transplant in 2015 from his brother Cengiz.
But seven years later, Cenk tragically passed away on December 21, 2021, at the age of 26, in what Georgia described as the “worst Christmas of my life.”
In support of Leukemia UK's Christmas appeal, Georgia has reflected on how “completely traumatized” she was after losing her best friend.
Georgia Harrison has spoken about the “traumatizing” experience of losing her childhood best friend Cenk Fahri to leukemia
Cenk (pictured with Georgia) was first diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at the age of 17 and received a bone marrow transplant in 2015 from his brother Cengiz
She told the charity: “You'd think after all the time he's been sick it wouldn't have been a shock – given he'd had so many treatments and made it through so many times, I wasn't prepared to accept that he would go. I just remember being absolutely traumatized.
“Even when he was given just six months to live, he convinced us all that he would be OK.” I remember my best friend's mother called to tell me the news and she said: “Cenk is gone,” I said – “gone where?” Went to the store? What do you mean gone?” And she said, “No, he's gone, he died.”
“I was absolutely traumatized. I think because he had been treated so many times and because he had been so sick before but had always gotten over it, I just wasn't ready to accept that he was actually going to die.”
Georgia, who met Cenk when they were teenagers, also recalled the devastating moment when Cenk told her he had been diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.
She said: “Cenk was diagnosed when I was 17. I remember being at my dad’s house in Marbella and when he called to tell me the news I was just devastated.”
“I couldn't stop crying. “At 17, you don’t expect to be told your best friend has cancer.”
Georgia shared that Cenk always remained “so positive” during his treatment, no matter how unwell he was, admitting that it “humbled” her and taught her not to be “ungrateful” for her own health.
However, seven years later, Cenk tragically died on December 21, 2021 at the age of 26. Georgia described it as the “worst Christmas of my life.”
Former Love Island star Georgia, 29, has reflected on her close friendship with her “cheeky” and “fun-loving” best friend Cenk and her devastation following his death
In 2015, Cenk had his brother Cengiz perform a bone marrow transplant. Georgia said this would allow her to spend another six years with her best friend.
“It was such a successful treatment for Cenk. “We had five to six more years of life with Cenk and during those years he was completely healthy,” she said. “We traveled around the world, he had such a great life, and it was all thanks to this treatment.”
Unfortunately, years after the transplant, Cenk became ill again and tragically passed away just four days before Christmas 2021 at the age of 26
Reflecting on her friendship with Cenk, Georgia added: “Cenk was so full of life.” So cheeky, so fun-loving. He just had this incredible way about him – everywhere he went, people just loved him. He had the biggest heart.'
Georgia spoke about Cenk's battle with cancer in support of Leukemia UK's Christmas appeal, which aims to help raise the vital funds needed for life-changing research into the disease.
Georgia said: “There are so many great treatment options now available and without charities like Leukemia UK these treatments wouldn’t be available – but there is so much more than can be done.”
“There are so many more treatment options to explore and I don’t want families to continue to have an empty seat at the dinner table this Christmas.”
“I want there to be a cure for leukemia. The best thing we can do is fund research and try to find more treatments.”
Georgia spoke about Cenk's battle with cancer in support of Leukemia UK's Christmas appeal, which aims to help raise the necessary funds for research into the disease
Fiona Hazell, chief executive of Leukemia UK, added: “Christmas can be a very difficult time for families affected by leukemia – whether because they have lost a loved one or because they or a loved one are facing a grueling situation undergoes treatment, which unfortunately is not always successful.
“We firmly believe that research has the power to stop leukemia from destroying lives, which is why we are investing in world-class research to find gentler and more effective treatments.”
“We cannot do this without the public's support and we are so grateful to Georgia and Cenk's family for bravely sharing their story to raise awareness.” Please consider donating to Leukemia UK this Christmas, Do whatever you can and help us prevent leukemia from destroying more lives.”