Boy with tumour makes bracelets to fund research
James has medulloblastoma, the second most common brain tumour in children
- Published
A seven-year-old boy from Nottinghamshire is making bracelets to raise money for childhood brain tumour research while undergoing treatment for the condition himself.
James, from Beeston, has raised more than £8,000 for childhood brain tumour research at the University of Nottingham, after deciding he wanted to make personalised bracelets and keyrings for donors.
When making the bracelets, James, who has medulloblastoma, external, includes the person's name, a number to keep track of how many he has created and his own "bead of courage".
On his fundraising efforts, James's mum Katie said: "The fundraiser has just flown, it's crazy but we are really grateful for the support."
'Means the world to us'
Katie, 37, told BBC Radio Nottingham that she took James to A&E after he became sick in March.
She said: "We knew it was serious... within 15 minutes [of the MRI scan] we had a senior doctor at our side, pulling us into a side room.
"She sat us both down and said 'I’m going to give you the worst news possible as a parent'.
"We were then told our child's got a brain tumour."
James's dad John, 39, said: "To see him go through so much and to see him actually want to do something positive and to keep on doing something, it just means the world to us.
“It makes me proud to say I'm his dad."
James with his dad, John (left) and mum, Katie (right)
Katie said her son had made 130 bracelets so far and took "real pride" when making them.
He has even sent one to Buckingham Palace.
When James created his 100th bracelet, he said it was a "special number" so wanted to send it to King Charles III.
As a huge football fan, James was invited to attend Nottingham Forest's training session on Thursday
After four operations and "intensive" chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, James, who is a huge football fan, was invited to meet the Nottingham Forest squad at their training ground on Thursday.
As well as supporting the Reds, James is also a big Manchester City fan and received a video call from City and England star, Phil Foden.
With an original fundraising goal of £500, James said he was "proud" of the bracelets and the money he had raised so far.
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