The family of a young boy who has aggressive cancer and needs potentially lifesaving treatment abroad are desperately trying to raise £500,000 to give him a fighting chance.
Six-year-old Denny was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in January 2016 and, despite a recent stem cell transplant, he needs urgent treatment that unfortunately the NHS are unable to fund.
Denny’s family are seeking to raise enough money so that he can receive CAR-T therapy, also known as Chimeric Antigen Receptors Cell Therapy – a highly complex type of immunotherapy which involves collecting and using the patients’ own immune cells to treat their condition.
Despite going into remission after heavy chemotherapy, Denny relapsed two years later. The same week his sister, Marley, was also diagnosed with ALL.
At present, children with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in Denny’s position are able to undergo CAR-T therapy here in the UK. However, there is no such therapy available for children with Denny’s cancer. Denny’s care team are recommending him to receive this treatment, which is being offered in hospitals in America, Australia and Germany.
Denny’s aunt, Michele Laurens, who set up a JustGiving fundraising page for the charity Tree of Hope, wrote: The consultants have provided us with the costs and treatment will cost in excess of £500,000. That’s before we’ve even covered flights and accommodation.
“This is a lot to raise I know, but what choice do we have? We have to try. I know I can’t look into that little boy’s eyes without knowing I have done everything possible in my power for him. He wants to grow; dying isn’t on his radar. He talks about what kind of father he will be, what job he wants to have, he talks about his future. He’s not ready to give up.
“His little life has been nothing but hospitals, sickness and pain, please let’s give him one last chance, one last fight.”
The family have so far raised more than £100,000.
To find out more about how you can help Denny and to donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/denny-and-marley