Telford teenager pens letter to help other childhood cancer sufferers
A teenager from Telford who survived childhood blood cancer has written an open letter of hope to help other children battling the disease.
Ed Garside, of Priorslee, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when he was just eight years old after he suddenly became extremely tired, pale, and developed unexplainable red marks on his legs.
Ed, who is now 17, received more than three years of treatment at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Birmingham’s Children Hospital, including around 10 months of intensive chemotherapy.
In the letter Ed writes that he has beat the disease and encourages other cancer sufferers to be strong, positive and hopeful.
Bloodwise, the blood cancer research charity, is encouraging children to read the letter by visiting its website.
To mark Blood Cancer Awareness Month in September, the charity has launched a national campaign to highlight the urgent need for better, kinder, and less toxic treatments for children.
Blood cancer is the most common cancer among children and young people, and over 1,100 under-25s are diagnosed every year in the UK, usually with either acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or Hodgkin lymphoma.
Current childhood blood cancer treatment can last for years and, in addition to hair loss, vomiting, and fatigue, can result in extended periods away from school, isolation, infertility, and an increased risk of further cancer in adulthood.
Ed said: “I wrote this letter because I want to help as many children as I can who are battling through the same disease.
"I want them to take hope from my battle against cancer, I want to inspire them and make them believe that they too can beat cancer.
"No matter how difficult it may seem, cancer is beatable. I am proof of that and I want all these brave children to realise and believe that cancer can be beaten.”
In the letter, Ed, who is now studying for this A-levels, writes: "My main piece of advice is to spend time with your family and friends whenever you can. They will help you through it all.
"Believe me, I know. I was just eight years old when I faced my battle with leukaemia and I beat it.
"Be strong. Be positive. Be hopeful. The standard two or three years of chemotherapy is a long time, but the finish line is reachable.
"You just need to maintain your strength and your belief because you can cross that finish line. And when you cross it, you will feel unbelievably amazing emotions."
Speaking about Bloodwise's campaign, director of research at the charity Dr Alasdair Rankin said: “The reality is that one in five children diagnosed with the most common type of leukaemia still do not survive, and that those who do often experience devastating side effects both during and after treatment.
"This is simply not good enough. We need to save every child’s life, make the treatment process much kinder and give them the life they would have had without cancer. Only by funding more research into better treatments will we be able to finish the job that has been started and give children the best possible cancer treatment.”
For more information visit www.bloodwise.org.uk or call the charity's support line on 0808 2080 888.
