When Aberdeen schoolboy Findlay Middleton was rushed to hospital on Christmas Eve last night, his family had no idea of the battle ahead of them.
Within hours, doctors discovered a tumour the size of a grapefruit on his chest and flew him down to Glasgow the next day.
By New Year’s Day, medics confirmed the eight-year-old was suffering from Burkitt’s non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer.
His distraught parents, Ross and Angela, have been by his side as he underwent four courses of chemotherapy in Glasgow.
And as he now settles back into life in Aberdeen, where he will undergo another four rounds of chemotherapy in the next three months, his family has launched a massive fundraiser to thank the charity that supported them through some of their toughest days.
Clic Sargent was able to provide the family with free accommodation while in Glasgow, and offers support and advice to families battling childhood cancer.
Mr Middleton, of Bridge of Don, said: “When we were told about the cancer we were in shock, denial, disbelief. It was serious and we thought Findlay might die.
“We had no idea what to say – to each other, to his brother and sister, our parents, and Findlay himself.
“We were in survival mode. You just react to the things in front of you, there is no structure.
“We still can’t look back on this and fully understand what has happened to Findlay, to our family, as it has so many other families.”
The family’s fundraiser is not just sponsored mountain climbs and other events. In the hope of encouraging even more people to dig deep, all donations made to their online page are entered into a prize draw for the chance to win dinner for two at London’s BT Tower on June 6.
Mr Middleton added: “CLIC Sargent helped us get the support we needed.
“They helped us get accommodation and financial help.”
“When he is down, it is really bad. However, we know and hope he will keep getting fitter and stronger after each course of chemo and eventually one day he will kick cancer’s butt and he can get his life back.”
CLIC Sargent fundraising manager Holly Taylor said: “It is wonderful to know that CLIC Sargent has been able to support the Middletons, and help them cope with cancer, and their fundraising will help us support many more young patients and their families.”
To make a donation to Findlay’s fund, visit www.mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/dinneratbttower
