Football fun day boost for Danetree Primary School pupil
A fun day to raise cash for Danetree Primary School pupil Frankie Biggs topped £4,000 to help in his fight against bone cancer.
Young footballers took part in a special tournament on Sunday (May 14), while fairground rides and attractions were also on-hand to provide entertainment and help to boost the total.
Frankie, 10, will be one of the first children in the country to have two 'bionic' knees as a result of his illness.
His family and friends were aiming to raise £4,000 to pay for specialist equipment at his home which will help his recovery and rehabilitation - the target has now been beaten as £4,809 was hit, although fundraising continues.
A little over six months ago Frankie's mum Alison was told that he had ligament damage to his knee, but her mother's instinct told her something was wrong and she took her son to A&E for an X-ray. He was also scanned and the family received the devastating news that he had a form of cancer called osteosarcoma and it had spread to both of his knees.
He has since undergone the replacement of one knee, along with a 29 week course of chemotherapy and he will also need the other knee replacing.
"Everyone is amazed at how strong Frankie is, and he is certainly living-up to his nickname of Frank the Tank," said his mum.
She is determined to raise awareness of osteosarcoma cancer and wants to produce leaflets to highlight the signs in children who may often complain of growing pains, followed by a lump forming after a knock or fall.
If more information had been readily available earlier, Alison said it could have helped earlier in Frankie's case and may have even meant he avoided the secondary cancer he is now fighting.
The football tournament was organised to help the family provide the equipment at his home where a ground floor bedroom and wet room for Frankie has already been installed to help him while he is relying on a wheelchair.
To help Frankie's appeal, see the website www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Franksarmy