JUST six months ago, young cancer sufferer Harry Banks’s outlook was bleak.
Then YOU, our caring Sun on Sunday readers, stepped in to help — and a fund to pay for life-saving treatment has since more than tripled, from £260,000 in January, smashed through the £500,000 target and reached more than £850,000.
And now the brave 11-year-old — struck down by a rare form of kids’ cancer twice in four years — will finally start a complex treatment trial to try to beat his aggressive disease in the coming days.
Harry and his mum Nina have moved into a rented home in Barcelona, the city where his vital six-month treatment will take place, and this week they celebrated his 11th birthday ahead of the start of his trial.
Nina, 41, said: “He has been so brave and is taking the start of this daunting treatment in his stride. It has been very nerve-racking, but after months it’s a relief to be finally underway.
“He’s been facing it with his usual cheeky smile and there is no doubt that knowing so many people kindly got behind him helps him. There’s no doubt we wouldn’t have started the trial without Sun on Sunday readers’ generosity.”
Harry’s cancer is “high risk” stage-four central nervous system (CNS) neuroblastoma. This month medics installed a tube which will deliver antibodies to his brain as part of the gruelling treatment.
The schoolboy will have the trial in two five-week cycles. He will first have a radioactive dose to work out how much of the drug he will need. The following week he will have a sole treatment dose and will then be monitored for three days.
The complex trial is being carried out by paediatric cancer specialist Jaume Mora, at Barcelona Medical Centre, one of the only places in the world to do it.
Nina, who flew to Barcelona at the end of last month with Harry’s father Russ, 61, and brother Oscar, 12, said: “The first night in Barcelona, Harry had a fever so the doctor decided to monitor him.
“But since then he’s loved going to the beach and swimming, which has kept his spirits up.
“It’s been strange, being away from our family and friends, but we know this will give Harry a fighting chance.”
We wouldn’t have started the trial without Sun on Sunday readers’ generosity
Nina Banks
This week Harry’s mood was boosted as his family rallied around him to celebrate his birthday with a day at the beach, plus a cake and presents.
Russ’s partner Debs and Harry’s half-brother Lawrence also flew out for the weekend.
Nina explained: “Harry has a long journey ahead of him and after his surgery he was really bouncing this morning.
“It’s taken a while for him to feel like this and it was lovely to see him enjoying his birthday like any other 11-year-old.”
The sports-mad youngster, who has had the backing of rugby union aces Danny Cipriani and Dylan Hartley, has already endured weeks of sickening cancer treatment this year — finishing his last round before flying to Spain early this month.
Hundreds of schools, choirs, sports and walking clubs have held quiz nights and other money-raising events to help reach the monumental appeal total.
One anonymous donor pledged £50,000 and a young girl even gave over all her birthday money.
Nina, from Woburn Sands, Bucks, said: “Harry is very much aware of the support. It doesn’t take away the sadness of where he is, though, and being away from home. We all know, despite the treatment, that there is risk of it coming back.”
