Child actor and friend raise £350k for charity after cancer diagnosis

Hughie (l) and Freddie (r) have been friends since infancy

A child actor who was diagnosed with leukaemia when he was 10 has raised £350,000 for charity with his best friend.

Hughie, 13, is currently starring as the Artful Dodger in the Leeds Playhouse production of Oliver and will take his last chemotherapy tablet on the final night of the show's run.

He got the call that he was cancer-free during rehearsals and was even able to bring his childhood friend Freddie backstage after getting the good news.

Freddie, 12, started raising money for the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where Hughie received his treatment, after his friend became ill.

Hughie (centre) with his Oliver castmates Felix Holt and Noah Walton

Their families are old friends and the boys have known each other since they were infants.

They have also bonded over their appreciation for Burnley Football Club, according to Hughie's mother Katy.

Freddie initially raised more than £120,000 by running 1.2 miles (2km) every day for 50 days during lockdown, culminating in a Christmas Day dash in 2020.

Their fundraising for the children's hospital has developed into further joint endeavours such as writing a book and participating in other fitness challenges.

"They're comical together," Katy said.

"Hughie has an old head on young shoulders.

"He's very sensitive and aware - probably because of what he has been though.

"Freddie is very cool and very dry, they're a double act. They've raised £347,000 so far, it's incredible."

The boys have taken on a number of challenges to raise money

Hughie, from Burnley, was told he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in September 2020 and underwent 32 weeks of intensive chemotherapy.

He returned to his Saturday drama classes as soon as he was well enough, though he was still undergoing monthly IV chemotherapy and taking daily medication.

Hughie was then asked to audition for Oliver and beat 1,500 other children to the part of the Artful Dodger.

"He has always been interested in singing and acting and has been able to do a decent Cockney accent since he was little," Katy said.

Hughie found he was free of cancer in November.

"He had only been there a few weeks and he was on a break when I told him we had had his tests back and he was clear.

"The rest of the cast were amazing, they all cheered for him."

Hughie and Freddie at the Pride of Manchester Awards in 2021

Hughie and Freddie have also won a Pride of Britain Award for their fundraising and filmed with BBC Breakfast backstage at the Leeds Playhouse.

"The support of everyone has been so nice," said Hughie.

Mum Katy added: "We are so proud of them.

"It's incredible that they set out to raise money to help other children and they have ended up helping so many."

Hughie will take his very last chemotherapy tablet on 27 January, as the curtain falls on Oliver's final performance.