I am running the 2010 Virgin London Marathon in support of a close university friend, Matthew White.

Matthew and his wife Colleen have a 5 year old son named Felix, who is suffering from Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare and very aggressive form of childhood cancer.

The whole family (including Matthew's sister Shoonagh) have an incredibly positive outlook, which inspires others, including me, to support Felix. 

I would be extremely grateful for your support.

Thank you

Jonathan

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Felix’s story is set out below:

On February 14^th 2009 our beautiful son Felix, age 4, was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare and very aggressive form of childhood cancer. He started complaining that his back hurt and two weeks later a large tumour stemming from his adrenal gland was discovered. The cancer had also spread to his bone marrow.

Over the past 12 months,  Felix has had 17 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumour, internal radiation and he is now undergoing  high dose chemotherapy. This consists of a six day continuous infusion of intense chemotherapy which completely strips his bone marrow, followed by stem cell transplant to hopefully ‘re-boot’ his immune system and help combat all the painful side effects.  What this also means is at least 4-6 weeks in hospital,  away from his best friend and identical twin brother Elliot, and adored big sister Grace.

Once he gets out of hospital, treatment does not let up. Neuroblastoma is extremely difficult to treat and has the devastating track record of coming back, so cure rates are low. Therefore, after high dose chemotherapy, Felix will then have  3 weeks of radiation, followed by immunotherapy for 5 months. It is for this latter stage that he needs your help.

New ‘antibody’ treatment has become available and is showing success in keeping this type of cancer away and avoiding relapse. Unfortunately it is in very limited supply in the and the most successful antibody treatment is currently in the and costs £300,000. We are therefore raising money to send Felix to in June for a 5 month programme. This will give him the best possible chance of cure.

Despite all the aggressive and invasive treatment so far, Felix has never once complained and has become to us  a true living Power Ranger, blasting out all the baddies one minute and running like the wind on our  favourite secret path forest walks the next. He has been such an amazing inspiration and teaches us EVERYDAY the importance of truly and completely savouring the present moment. We want to give him many, many more days to keep teaching us. He deserves the best possible chance for cure, and hopefully with all of us pitching in together, he’ll get it.

Any donation you can make toward getting Felix to would be fantastic. Thank you

For more information about Felix, his journey so far and other fundraising efforts click on http://www.appeal4felix.com/

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