HELP 19-YEAR-OLD ZACH FIGHT A RARE & AGGRESSIVE CANCER

Fund For Treatment, Recovery & To Make Precious Memories

In January 2026, Zach turned 19.

He was healthy. Strong. Full of plans for his future.

On 20th January, celebrated his birthday surrounded by family — laughing, joking, and looking forward to everything life had ahead of him.

Just weeks later, everything changed.

A lump appeared on Zach’s arm. At first it seemed small. Something simple.

Then came the hospital stay.

The scans.

The tests.

More scans.

More tests.

And then the news that shattered our world.

Zach wasn’t facing just one tumour.

He was facing many.

Tumours had spread to his arm, lymph nodes, head, and along his spine. Six tumours were pressing against his spinal cord. The pressure was so severe that his T11 vertebra collapsed and disintegrated.

Then the unimaginable happened.

Zach suddenly lost the use of his legs.

At just 19 years old, our family was forced to make an impossible decision:

Start urgent cancer treatment immediately and risk permanent paralysis —

or delay treatment and rush him into emergency spinal surgery to try to save his spinal cord.

Zach underwent major spinal surgery. Surgeons removed part of his collapsed vertebra and as much tumour as they safely could.

It was long. It was terrifying.

But Zach faced it with a courage that has left every one of us in awe.

______________

The Diagnosis No Family Is Prepared For

After weeks of biopsies and agonising waiting, on 2nd March Zach was diagnosed with Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.

This is an extremely rare and aggressive cancer.

* It accounts for only around 1% of childhood cancers

* It is even rarer in adults

* It spreads rapidly

* Treatment requires intensive chemotherapy and complex care

On 27th February, Zach began his first round of chemotherapy — a combination of four powerful drugs delivered through a PICC line directly into a vein near his heart.

He will now endure these aggressive chemotherapy cycles every three weeks.

The aim is to stop new tumours forming and shrink the 9 tumours already discovered.

______________

Another Devastating Update

In the last few days (Friday 13th March) we have received more heart-breaking news.

Specialists now believe although it’s still early days that Zach may not regain the use of his legs, however we remain positive.

Even more devastating, after having a bone marrow biopsy his cancer has been confirmed as fusion positive.

'Fusion-positive' in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) means the cancer cells possess a specific genetic error (translocation), typically merging the PAX3 or PAX7 gene with the FOXO1 gene. This creates a fusion protein that drives aggressive tumour growth and is linked to poorer prognosis, higher relapse rates, and more frequent metastasis than fusion-negative forms.

The road ahead has become far more uncertain than we ever imagined.

And yet, despite everything — the pain, the surgery, the chemotherapy, the fear — Zach continues to fight with incredible strength.

______________

Why We Are Raising Funds

Zach is only 19 years old.

He should be planning adventures, building a career, travelling, and living the life every young person deserves.

Instead, he is facing chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and a future that has suddenly become frighteningly uncertain.

We are raising funds to help give Zach the support, independence, and comfort he needs during this fight.

These funds will help with whatever treatment Zach may need in the future, including items listed below :

* Essential home adaptations (ramps, widened doors, accessible bathroom)

* A specialist wheelchair and pressure-relief equipment

* Spinal braces and mobility support

* Intensive physiotherapy and rehabilitation

* Assistive technology

* Travel to specialist cancer centres

* Support with ongoing care during treatment

But this fundraiser is about more than equipment and treatment.

It is about giving Zach the chance to live.

If treatment works, this fund will help him rebuild his independence and reclaim his life.

And if the unthinkable happens, we want Zach to have something every person deserves: memories.

______________

What Zach Asked For

When someone asked Zach what he wanted most right now, he didn’t ask for anything extravagant.

He simply said:

"I’d love a big screen in my hospital room so Mum can watch films with me."

Movie nights have always been their tradition.

What Zach misses most right now is something so simple.

Just sitting together & eating popcorn

watching a film.

Laughing like a normal family again.

If time becomes precious, we want Zach to have a bucket list.

Moments of happiness.

Experiences.

Time with the people he loves.

Not just hospital walls.

At 19 years old, he deserves that.

______________

How You Can Help

Every donation — no matter how small — will make a real difference.

This fundraiser was created by Sharon, Lois’s cousin, with the families' full knowledge and blessing, because Lois and Richard just can't find it in themselves to type these devastating, heart-breaking words, words that no parent should have to hear and repeat about their son.

If you cannot donate, please share Zach’s story.

The more people who see this, the more hope we can build around him.

Zach is fighting with everything he has.

And we will fight beside him every single step of the way.

If you can give £5, £10, £50 or anything at all, please help us support this brave young man.

Your kindness could help give Zach the comfort, dignity, and moments of joy that every 19-year-old deserves.

With love and gratitude,

Zach, Lois, Richard, Ren and Kai xxx

(All funds raised go directly in to Zach's bank account)

If you want to learn more about Zach's extremely rare cancer, please Google:

Fusion Positive Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma