Meet Ben, a 16 year old student from Sheldon School who was tragically struck down with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (cancer of the blood) in the middle of October last year. He’s a normal boy who was enjoying all those things that 15 and 16 year olds love to do: mountain biking, photography, hanging out with his friends and generally enjoying life.

His illness started innocently enough with some pains in his rib cage, knees and an aching back, which the doctor thought could be growing pains or possibly a virus. The same evening as the doctor’s initial diagnosis, Ben spent an agonising night with back pain that restricted him from laying down for a second. His mum took him straight down to A&E the next morning. After a few hours of waiting for test results, the worst was confirmed: Ben had leukaemia. He was rushed to the BRI Children's Hospital in Bristol.

Ben spent the next few days in Bristol being prepared for the chemotherapy that would follow. His pain, however, was worsening and morphine was the only way in which Ben could endure the increasing back pain. Five days later after Ben’s initial diagnosis he walked (in pain) to theatre to have some routine procedures done in preparation for chemotherapy. He woke from the anaesthetic without any sensations from the chest down. An MRI scan confirmed the worst: a tumour had grown into his vertebrae crushing his spinal cord.

Ben had been paralysed.

The tumour was quickly removed by neurosurgeons but sadly, ten months on, Ben has not regained any feeling below his chest and now faces his life in a wheelchair.

Ben has been tremendously brave, has remained hugely positive and has accepted his paralysis remarkably maturely. Whilst dealing with his paralysis he has still been fighting leukaemia and that battle alone is expected to last for more than three years. Ben and his family have not given up hope that he will be able to walk again and they have spent hundreds of hours trying to research alternative ways in which they could perhaps reverse the spinal cord compression. 

Our fundraising efforts are two-fold. We are keen to support Ben in his rehabilitation through contributing towards equipment that will help him at home, some of which is extremely expensive. We are also committed to helping raise money for young people like Ben, albeit without the additional complication of the paralysis, who are fighting cancer. Anything you can donate would be greatly appreciated - every little bit helps.

All money given to Teenage Cancer Trust will go to the South West Appeal, which have been fantastic in supporting Ben since his diagnosis last October.  If you would like to contribute to Ben's equipment cause, you can do this by sending a cheque to 'Sheldon School', with a covering note clearly marking it for the Ben Conolly appeal.

Thank you.