Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. I have been 'lucky' enough to get a place in this years London Marathon and I am trying to raise as much money as possible for a boy, not much older than Tom, that lives a few roads from us.

Jacob is only 5 years old. Last January he began to experience severe stomach pains but after a few visits to the GP his parents were satisfied that nothing was seriously wrong. The stomach pains passed, but were replaced by a limp which did not go and Jacob was in constant pain.

After many further visits to doctors and clinics Jacob was referred to Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool, where after a multitude of other tests the doctors found a 15cm long tumour behind Jacob's stomach. Jacob was diagnosed with a childhood cancer known as Neuroblastoma.This rare and aggressive cancer had moved from its primary site into his bones and was at stage 4, the most advanced form. Despite having intensive chemotherapy, surgery, radiotherapy and stem cell recovery, Jacob has yet to achieve remission and the cancer remains.

His most recent MIGB therapy in London was completed just before Christmas. During this, he was subject to intense radioactive substances and had to be isolated for a week at a time, no cuddles from mum or dad.

The family had conflicting reports on whether the MIGB therapy had been successful. Jacob was booked in to have the tumour removed on Thursday 14th February at Alder Hey Hospital but they did not find out if it can go ahead until they got to the hospital on the day, thankfully it did. After 7 hours of complicated surgery, as the tumour had attached itself to his spine, Jacob was wheeled to the Intensive Care Unit (where he remains). The most amazing news is that a scan showed that his bone marrow is FREE from cancer and this means his treatment in the UK can continue.

The shadow of treatment in the US remains, but this recent news means that it could never happen. If it does then the only treatment left is probably 3F8 antibody therapy which is only available at one hospital in the world, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Children’s Cancer Centre (MSKC) in New York. The cost is a minimum $350,000 and would involve all the family relocating to the US for upto a year.

To lose someone so young is unthinkable, so please dig deep and help support this family's fight for their son's life!! Please go to Jacob's site to see the most recent news in his diary section:

Click here to visit Jacob's website.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: The 2Simple Trust - Jacob Marsland Appeal will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Many thanks for your support.

Dan