Toy designed by boy with cancer to be manufactured

Spencer was six-years-old when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

A boy who has designed his dream toy while undergoing treatment for a rare form of cancer will see his teddy bear - named the Bat Cat - manufactured and sold to raise money for charity.

Spencer, from Skelton in North Yorkshire, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when he was six and has undergone chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a bone marrow transplant.

He is now 11 years old and has recently been discharged from Great Ormond Street Hospital after relapsing for a third time.

Spencer is a keen artist and after his toy design won a public vote to be made he said: "I wanted to create a superhero teddy, which children could cuddle when having treatment to make them feel better."

Before his diagnosis, Spencer had been experiencing cold-like symptoms for about two weeks, his mum Karen said.

He felt lethargic, had a few bruises on his legs and was pale.

"But it was his rapid heart rate, which concerned us most," she said.

Spencer was quickly diagnosed and began chemotherapy treatment.

'Incredibly proud'

Spencer has undergone four-and-a-half years of treatment for his condition, which has left him with pain in his legs and in need of a wheelchair.

He has also experienced long periods of isolation - missing out on schooling and educational trips - which has affected his mood.

"Having a child go through cancer treatment is absolutely heart-breaking," Karen said.

"We would do absolutely anything to swap places with him if we could.

"Knowing he has relapsed three times is absolutely crushing.

"We feel physically and emotionally drained."

Due to his weakened immune system, Spencer is at higher risk of infections and will need to spend time isolating while he recovers for the next three months.

"We are incredibly proud of Spencer," Karen said.

She said his treatment had been tough and charity Cancer Support UK's competition to design a toy had had a "positive impact" on him.

"For him, just knowing his design was receiving votes made him happy, but then to find out he won, it just blew him away," she said.

Spencer's design won a public vote and 1,200 of the toys will be produced

Company Warmies will manufacture 1,200 of the Bat Cats designed by Spencer and all profits will be donated to charity.

David Tweedale from the firm said seeing Spencer's reaction when he recieved the first teddy was "something I won't ever forget."

Mark Guymer, CEO of Cancer Support UK, said the funds raised from the project would "enable us to provide vital practical and emotional support to people living with and beyond cancer".

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