In September our son Leo was diagnosed with cancer. He has shown such great strength, resilience and bravery and we are in awe of him. Childhood cancers are very rare and like any diagnosis for anyone this has been extremely difficult to accept.

Our darling Lion...we ask ourselves everyday, why him?

But in all of this, we have found a powerful support network of doctors, nurses and charities who have helped and empowered us to keep going. It only seems right to do what we can to raise awareness of childhood cancer and to give back to these charities so they can continue the crucial research they do and find ways of making children smile again.

We are fundraising to raise money for The Royal Marsden hospital Charity and The Chartwell Children's Cancer Trust. All funds donated to this page will be split equally 50/50 between these charities.

We will be organising a family fundraising day on the 17th September 2023 and will have events and raffle in the lead up.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity raises money solely to support The Royal Marsden Hospital. With your help we can ensure their nurses, doctors and research teams can provide the very best care and develop life-saving treatments which are used here in the UK and around the world.

The Chartwell Children's Cancer Trust raises funds to make improvements to cancer care for patients, families and medical staff across South London, North Kent and East Surrey. They arrange monthly fun trips for the children's oncology ward at Queen Elizabeth hospital in Woolwich which Leo is a patient of and have also provided him with an isolation robot so he can still interact at school.

Leo has had 2 operations as part of his treatment, one to fit his portacath that his chemotherapy is run through and to have biopsies of his tumour. The other was 6 hour major surgery to remove his right kidney and tumour. Leo now only has 1 kidney.

Due to his tumour being so large Leo then needed 14 sessions of radiotherapy to the flank where the kidney was and will have received 31 weeks of weekly chemo by the time he finishes treatment at the end of June 2023.

Leo is unable to attend school regularly, he has to isolate often due to his low immunity, he cannot see his friends or family like he wants to and yet he is always smiling and positive. He really is amazing.

Leo continues to fight, join the fight with him on his journey and help other children by donating.

Love Alex, Daisy, Lola and Leo xx

#Leothelion #childhoodcancer #ringthebell