I will be doing a skydive in order to raise money for Ewing's Sarcoma Research Trust, after the recent diagnosis of my friend Kieran Maxwell.
About the trust:
They are researching to provide a cure for this aggressive form of cancer, which is most common in teenagers and young adults.
About Kieran:
Kieran is 18 years old, and was diagnosed with an Ewing's Sarcoma in 2010. The chemotherapy he needed to try and save his leg didn't reduce enough and on 31st March 2011 he had to have his leg amputated through his knee.
Kieran was declared cancer free on 3rd October 2011.
Unfortunately we found out his cancer had returned on 10th May 2013. This was 8 days before he was due to compete in the NDP British Gymnastic Acro competition. He delayed his treatment so he could compete and he won GOLD.
Kieran started his relapse treatment on 20th May 2013.
The treatment was different to the first time and was more intense. He had 6 cycles of chemotherapy, part of his left lung removed and a stem cell transplant. The stem cell transplant is similar to a bone marrow transplant but he received his own cells back instead of donor cells.
At 5 stone, Kieran used to be a very athletic boy, and the loss of a leg has made it very difficult for him to participate in sports. But he now has a running blade which he uses most days to compete and train for his athletic career plus a light weight everyday leg.
Kieran is now a classified T42 sprinter.