A Nottingham dad whose four-year-old son has been diagnosed with leukaemia will cycle a 24 hour 300 mile route from Nottingham to Edinburgh to raise money for charity.
In March 2016, Hayden Whitehead received a call at work to say his son George was being rushed to hospital after collapsing at playgroup.
George was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and immediately needed blood and platelet transfusions and chemotherapy during a two week stay in hospital.
His ongoing treatment involves a three year programme of chemotherapy, weekly home visits from community nurses and frequent visits to Nottingham Children’s Hospital.
George’s dad Hayden has decided to raise money for Children’s Ward E39 and Children’s Oncology Day care where his son is treated; he has already raised £4,690 of an £8,000 JustGiving page target.
Hayden said: “We cannot change George’s diagnosis but what we can do is support the ward where these brave babies, toddlers, children, and teenagers spend so much of their time in treatment.
“George has been coping brilliantly with his chemotherapy and had a great Christmas and is still smiling.
“It’ll be a long road but our brave little trooper will fight this. Truth be told, he’s been the strong one throughout the whole ordeal!”
Hayden said staff at the hospital have been incredibly supportive to George and the family.
“Being on the ward with George and visiting the Daycare Oncology unit three to four times a week has opened mine and my wife’s eyes to the fantastic work all the staff do.
“They are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week helping children as young as three months old battling cancer and other rare conditions and offering kind words of support and encouragement to the parents and the work they do is truly remarkable.
“The money we raise will go towards toys for the play areas, TVs for the bays, DVDs and games and art materials for children to be creative.”
Nottingham Hospitals Charity chief cxecutive Barbara Cathcart said: “We are very grateful to Hayden for his impressive fundraising activities inspired by his son’s illness which will help improve the lives of young patients at Nottingham Children’s Hospital.
“Our Big Appeal will enable us to make a big difference to children like George and their families, so that we can continue to provide the best possible care for patients in a child friendly environment, making their experience more comfortable and with better outcomes.”
