A mother and son have been battling cancer side by side.
The Howard-Carter family was torn apart last year when both mum Su and four-year-old son Drew were diagnosed with cancer.
Drew was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in May, just days after his fourth birthday.
Then at the end of October, Su was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer.
They are both now on curative treatment plans but dad Jason admits it has not been an easy journey.
“Honestly, I’m not sure what ‘coping’ is these days,” he said.
“If we, as a family, can ‘win the day’ then that’s one more day ticked off.
“We’re very much in survival mode.”
READ MORE: Cancer-battling toddler misses out on start of school as treatment continues
Su, who turned 47 in January, has just finished a course of chemotherapy with a surgery up next ahead of radiotherapy.
Drew meanwhile is about halfway through a two-year treatment plan, due to end in May 2024.
“He’s now in what they call maintenance which is much more manageable than the phases of treatment we have been through.
“We have had some bumps in the road, but we will beat this.”
This weekend, the community gathered around them to raise important funds for the Children of Worcestershire Cancer Fund, part of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity.
The fund is used to support special events and projects that go beyond core NHS provision.
In the past year it has been used to buy wheelchairs and pushchairs, arts and craft supplies, food hampers, Halloween parties, Christmas gifts and a trip to the pantomime.
It is also used to buy bespoke ‘end of treatment’ cakes when children complete their treatment.
Evesham resident Craig Jennings organised a race night at Hampton Club on Saturday, March 25, which ended up raising £1,000 for the charity which has supported Drew on this journey.
Dawn Forbes, the children and young people's oncology nurse specialist who set up the fund, said: “Wow, what an amazing amount of money to have raised. Thank you so much.”
A spokesperson for Hampton Club added: “The night was a fantastic success and we would like to thank, not only everyone who attended the event, but also the sponsors of the horses and all the people and businesses who donated prizes for the raffle.”
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