ENGLAND rugby stars and a celebrity photographer have joined forces in a race against time to help a 10-year-old beat his rare cancer.
Harry Banks, from Ampthill, Beds., was diagnosed with neuroblastoma back in 2012 – the same cancer which killed little Bradley Lowery.
At the age of six, brave Harry underwent two years of gruelling chemo and surgeries.
The sports-mad 10-year-old was then given the all-clear and rang the bell at the end of his treatment for the rare and aggressive cancer at the John Radcliffe hospital, Oxford.
He had two years of remission before being given the devastating news last November that the cancer – which affects only 100 kids in the UK each year – had returned.
Harry then had brain surgery to remove a two-inch tumour, but docs warned his parents Nina and Russell that without treatment, it would return for the third time.
“Harry had reached the two year mark for remission and we took a breath and thought he was going to be OK and then this happens [the return of the cancer] out of nowhere and it was a huge shock,” said Nina.
“I was heartbroken.
“We were initially told there was no cure if Harry relapsed but he now has a chance if he goes to New York or Barcelona and this is why we are carrying out this fundraising campaign.
“Our consultant has recommended this treatment and has said if it was his child he would do the same which is good enough for me.”
The Banks family now find themselves having to raise £500,000 before mid-March to send Harry to New York for a pioneering treatment that will save his life.
The pioneering trial abroad is for 8H9, known as Omburtamab, and is taking place at the Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Centre in New York.
The new drug carries radioactive iodine directly to the cancer to kill it and doctors have recommended his treatment starts in around eight weeks.
So far, they’ve raised £200k but are desperately pleading for donations to keep their “bubbly and smiley” son alive.
To help them out, a host of the country’s best rugby players have gathered together to be photographed by celebrity photographer Rankin to raise awareness of the campaign.
What is neuroblastoma?
Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that most commonly afflicts babies and young children.
The disease develops from special nerve cells, known as neuroblasts, which get left behind from the child’s development in the womb.
It mostly begins in the sufferer’s adrenal glands located above the kidneys but can occur in the nerve tissue that runs along the spinal cord in the neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis.
The vicious illness can then spread to other organs like the bone, bone marrow, lymph nodes and skin.
Neuroblastoma afflicts around 100 children a year in the UK but the cause of the disease is still not known.
Its symptoms can include:
- a swollen painful tummy, sometimes in association with constipation and difficulty passing urine
- breathlessness and difficulty swallowing
- a lump in the neck
- blueish lumps in the skin and bruising, particularly around the eyes
- weakness in the legs and an unsteady walk, with numbness in the lower body, constipation and difficulty passing urine
- fatigue, loss of energy, pale skin, loss of appetite and weight loss
- bone pain, a limp and general irritability
- jerky eye and muscle movements
Bradley Lowery developed a developed a tumour so large it was putting pressure on some of his major organs and arteries.
It eventually spread through his chest, lungs, lymph nodes, bone and bone marrow but, after major surgery and high doses of chemotherapy, he managed to pull through and went into remission.
But sadly the cancer returned in July 2016, and in December 2016, his family were told it was terminal.
England Rugby’s Will Greenwood, Marcus Smith, Danny Cipriani, Harry Mallinder and Dylan Hartley all came forward to add their weight to ensure Harry meets his target.
Greenwood, 46, revealed Harry’s plight has struck a personal chord and said he did not think twice when he received a phone call asking for his support.
He said: “I’m involved in a charity called Borne [raises money for research into premature birth] and lost my little boy Freddie in 2002 and the brutal fact is that no parent should have to bury their child.
“So if there is any chance I can help then of course I will.”
Gloucester player and Kelly Brook’s ex Danny Cipriani, 31, added: “When I heard about Harry and that he was a big rugby fan and big Saints fan, I made sure I was available to help.”
And England captain Hartley, 32, echoed their sentiments, saying: “This is a great cause.
“Harry is a big supporter of rugby and he’s part of the rugby community and we have got to do everything we can to rally around this strong young man and do everything we can to help.”
Harry, a massive rugby fan who plays for his local club, was thrilled to be able to take part in a photoshoot with so many legends of the sport.
“I liked it when they picked me up. It makes me feel happy because they are here to help me and I just want to say thank you to everyone.”
Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith, 19, read about Harry’s story on his Instagram feed and was so moved he pledged to help immediately.
The Harlequins star said: “I saw that Harry has always got a smile on his face and he’s going through these difficult times.
“Seeing him here at this photo shoot looking so lively and having fun, I look at Harry and I realise I have nothing to complain about.”
Nina said: “We are very lucky to have such supportive family, friends and help from the rugby community and Rankin, but to achieve this target we need everyone to get behind the fundraising and make a difference.
MORE ON CANCER
“I will never allow myself to lose hope.
“Harry is a strong, very stubborn little boy, and he/we will fight this.”
You can donate to Harry’s fund here.
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News Photo Boy, 10, battling same deadly cancer as Bradley Lowery has one last hope – to raise £500k for new drug
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