Help Raise Funds for Young Weston Boy Battling Cancer for Second Time

A KIND-hearted man from Weston-super-Mare is trying to raise money for charity after seeing his six-year-old neighbour battle cancer for the second time.

Harry Davies was three and a half he was diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma in the Radius bone of his lower arm.

It is a rare form of cancer often starting in the bone and fewer than 20 children a year in the UK develop it.

Usually it occurs in teenage years not in children as young as Harry.

Harry has had a really rough ride, he was in Bristol Children's Hospital for 11 months during which time he suffered lots of infections, the main one being Mucositis.

He underwent eight months of Chemotherapy and in December 2007 he had the Radius bone surgically removed from his arm.

Harry then needed radiotherapy and more chemotherapy and eventually in June 2008, 12 months after the original diagnosis, he was released from hospital.

During this time it was hard for his parents Darren and Sharon as one of them needed to be with him and one needed to look after his younger brother Joshua.

Darren's employers allowed him to take time off work as paid compassionate leave for as long as he needed but he didn't take advantage of this and tried to go in whenever he was able.

Sharon however had to leave her job in order to support Harry and Joshua even though Sharon's mum did what she could to help.

 

But throughout this difficult period the family received help from Clic Sergent.

For the next two years Harry grew up like any other boy and started attending Mendip Green School in Weston but then two years on the family received terrible news.

Neighbour Neil Bayliss said after watching Harry go through his ordeal he wanted to offer his help.

Mr Bayliss said: "He started attending Mendip Green School. While there were always the concerns in the background everything seemed to be going well.

"I have never known him to complain about his arm or to use it as an excuse, he was to all intent and purpose a normal boy getting into the normal scrapes and being as mischievous as any other five year old.

"He could be cheeky but he was also very caring in his own way. He was nearly in remission for two years when the terrible bomb fell.

"In early June this year Harry became ill, he was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital as an emergency and our worst fears were confirmed.

"Harry was diagnosed as having Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, a particularly nasty and aggressive form of cancer of the blood.

"He has now spent another nine weeks in hospital again fighting off numerous infections and having another dose of chemotherapy.

"As if this wasn't enough for the poor lad, because the chemotherapy has to be intensive and aggressive it has left him with a weak heart.

"While he is waiting for a bone marrow transplant the doctors have allowed him home where he is having maintenance chemotherapy to try to keep him stable.

"The amazing thing is to see and talk to Harry at the moment you wouldn't think there was anything wrong with him at all, he's just like any other boy though to quote him he does have "wonky blood".

"In the last week we have had the good news that he is still in remission and if everything goes according to plan he will be able to have the transplant in September and then we are all praying that it works as it is the last medical option available.

"Throughout all of this period I have been greatly impressed by the support that Clic Sargent has given not only Harry but also his parents and younger brother and as a thank you for their work I am trying to raise funds so they can continue giving this support to other children and their families.

"I'm not built for things like running or sporting activities but one thing I am good at is my job, I'm a driving instructor.

"One of the services I provide is a residential driving course which is done over a week, so I'm going to give up a weeks work and offer the chance of winning one of these courses to anyone who makes a £5 donation to Clic Sargent through the website www.Bmycharity.com/HarrysDrivingDraw

Harry's Driving Draw- How does it work? 

All these names of those who donated will be placed in the draw and on Xmas Eve 2010 Harry (or one of his family members if he's not well enough at the time) will draw out the winner who will then be notified by e-mail with a voucher for the course.

The closing date for entrants is December 16, 2010. You donate in your own name, if you want someone else to receive the training put their name in the comment box, the voucher issued will have the name printed on it.

If you want to make a donation but don't want to be entered in the draw please say so in the comment box.

To be eligible to receive the course the winner must hold a current and valid UK provisional driving licence, have been resident in this country for six months in the year prior to the driving test and meet their medical requirements, including eyesight, to be able to drive.

The course voucher can be redeemed at any time during 2011. Prior to booking the course the pupil must have passed their theory test.

Seven nights accommodation is included in a Bed and Breakfast in Weston as is lunch on the training days. The DSA fee for the driving test is being kindly donated by Learner Driving Centres to whom Mr Bayliss is franchised.