We are raising money for 7 year-old Rufus and his family following his recent relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. After ending 3.5 years of gruelling treatment only 18 months ago, devastatingly the leukaemia has returned.

 

This means Rufus will now endure a new mixture of even stronger chemotherapy, steroid and immunotherapy treatment with a potential stem cell transplant. At times he will be hooked up 24 hours a day to a pump and require several monthly hospital stays for specialised treatment, bone marrow aspirations and monitoring.

 

He will be treated at two, potentially three hospital centres over the next few years. The family live over 3.5 hours away from the main treatment centre, meaning multiple trips for the family whilst they manage Rufus treatment, side effects and try and maintain time and schooling for Rufus’s younger brother. These trips are exhausting, stressful and expensive.

 

Research by young lives vs cancer identify that on average parents spend £600 a month extra during active cancer treatment on travelling, parking and increased energy bills with many families also suffering lost earnings. The pressure of managing finances causes considerable stress and anxiety during what is an already impossible time for the family.

 

The money raised here will be used to help cover costs of travelling, food, and expenses whilst staying away from home and if possible a family outing when Rufus is well enough. Please please give generously. They are in a situation absolutely no family would ever wish to face.