A LYMM school is holding a special fair on Thursday to help raise £500,000 to try and save a 10-year-old boy suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
Oughtrington Primary School is holding the event to help raise the money for Harry Banks whose family was given the devastating news when he was six that he had Stage 4 Neuroblastoma – an aggressive children’s cancer which affects just 100 youngsters a year in the UK.
He underwent two years of intensive chemotherapy, continuous investigations, major surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and more.
After the treatment came to an end, Harry enjoyed nearly two and half years of remission.
But in November, the family was devastated to learn that the neuroblastoma had returned – and as yet there is no cure for relapse.
A two inch tumour has been removed from his brain – but doctors have warned that without further radical treatment, not available in this country, the disease will return a third time.
Harry lives in Woburn, but his cousin, Sophie Cook, aged nine, is a pupil at Oughtrington Primary and asked her head teacher, Gillian Marsland, if the school would raise money for the “Mad About Harry” campaign which family and friends have set up to enable him to receive further treatment in the United States.
Mrs Marsland needed little persuading and the school has already held a “Yellow Day” to raise money.
But youngsters on the school council wanted to do more so Thursday’s fair was organised.
Dozens of local businesses are supporting the event with raffle and auction prizes and, nationally, scores of sporting and showbusiness celebrities are support the “Mad About Harry” campaign.
Harry’s Mum, Nina, said: “My poor son’s beaten cancer twice – please help me stop it coming back a third time.”
Anyone can support the fund through the website https://uk.gofundme.com/madaboutharry
