11-year-old Betsy Griffin, blind and with a brain tumor, realizes radio presenting ambition

An 11-year-old girl, who lives with blindness and a brain tumor, expressed that she had achieved her “dream” of hosting her own radio program. Betsy Griffin, a resident of Chorleywood, Hertfordshire, received her tumor diagnosis at the age of two. Earlier in the current year, she was honored with the BBC Three Counties Radio (3CR) Make a Difference bravery award, recognizing her YouTube channel, Betsy’s Positive Videos. This past Sunday, the station provided her the opportunity to broadcast, with Betsy hosting her own program featuring 1950s and ’60s rock’n’roll and country music – a genre she stated had consistently resonated with her. According to her father, Stuart Griffin, Betsy was diagnosed with an optic nerve glioma, a condition that impacted her vision and resulted in her complete blindness. Although the benign tumor spread, necessitating multiple surgeries and ongoing treatment, her health status remains stable. Betsy stated that her initial goal when creating her videos was to maintain an atmosphere that was “nice and positive… and uplifting”. Her father characterized Betsy as “inspirational.” Previously this year, Betsy conveyed to BBC 3CR presenter Justin Dealey her affection for 1950s rock’n’roll and her aspiration to become a radio presenter. Upon being given the opportunity to host her own program, she remarked that it would be “an absolute privilege”. Her show on Sunday commenced with her saying: “Hi everybody, it is me, Betsy Griffin. I’m going to start with an absolute belter, here’s Roly Poly by Willie Nelson. Hit it!” Throughout the 30-minute broadcast, she featured songs by artists such as Fats Domino, Chuck Berry, and Bill Haley & His Comets, interspersing them with brief facts about the performers or their music. Following the broadcast of The Big Bopper’s Chantilly Lace, she recounted that a distant cousin had sung that particular song to her “after one of my brain surgeries and it really did cheer me up so much”. In a statement made after the program, she commented: “It was kind of like second nature. I’ve dreamed of this… but honestly, you’ve made a girl’s dream come true.” Both Betsy and her father acknowledged her slight obsession with Nelson’s music, though Mr. Griffin commented: “Well, it could be worse.” He added: “Most 11-year-olds are listening to pop music so I guess I’ve dodged a bullet in that respect.” Betsy interjected: “Yes, it could be AC/DC.” Following her experience hosting her own radio program, she now stated her aspiration was to personally meet her idol, Nelson. For news from Beds, Herts, and Bucks, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.