The Challenge….

Ernie is restricted on what he can do because of the risk of seizures but his oncologist has agreed he is able to do a Wing Walk along with his cousin Ruben for moral support. For those that don't know, it's where you are strapped to the top of an aeroplane whilst it flies around the sky. Crazy, and not for the feint hearted. I’m sure it’ll be a ‘walk in the park’ for Ernie, or rather a wing walk in the sky…..

I know lots of you have donated before to cancer charities, so sorry to ask, but all donations, no matter how small, will be greatly received and Ernie will be delighted to know that every penny raised will go to the C9 Ward who will continue to do amazing work for young children with cancer.

If you want to come and watch you can, don’t worry we won’t strap you to an aeroplane! If not, we’ll post some videos of Maverick and Goose…

Location - RFC Rendcomb Airfield, The Whiteway, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 7DF

Date - 30th August 2024, 1.30pm

Ernie’s Story….

Ernie was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma in August 22. He bravely completed multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and an operation to replace his humerus in his arm with his fibula bone from his leg. All this over a gruelling one-year period with lengthy stays in Addenbrookes hospital. The staff from C9 Ward were and are amazing and made sure Ernie was kept as comfortable and as entertained as possible.

In September 23 Ernie completed his treatment, started his long road to recovery and returned to college to try and lead a normal teenage life.

Four months after getting the all-clear the devastating news came that a secondary tumour appeared on Ernie’s lung and multiple tumours in his head too. Not the news anybody wants to hear, certainly not for a 16-year-old who has already endured a whole year of punishing treatment!

Most people faced with this news would struggle to come to terms with it, let alone someone so young, but not our Ern. Needless to say, Ernie just faced up to it all, without a complaint, and just accepted it. I’m sure deep-down Ernie was heartbroken, but he always puts on a brave face and always has a smile to share, he just gets on with it. We often say he’s built different!

Six rounds of chemotherapy and five sessions of whole-head radiotherapy later Ernie is doing great. The latest scans show that the tumours have reduced in size and there are no new areas for concern so some good news to cling to. Still another five radiotherapy sessions to go!

Knowing Ernie, he’ll crack on without a fuss and remain positive and upbeat throughout and just wants to be treated like a normal young man, he’d rather talk about something else, he doesn’t do ‘centre of attention’.

Ernie has decided he wants to give something back to the people that work tirelessly on C9 providing treatment for children and young adults with cancer. The facilities and medical equipment available at the hospital are second-to-none, this is largely due to kind donations from thousands of people around the world, many of whom have been affected in some way or another by cancer.

For more information visit the Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust (ACT) Fundraising Group.