Family gives £60,000 boost to cancer charity after boy’s tragic death

Alexander Strong – known as Lex – was diagnosed with neuroblastoma on Christmas Eve in 2009.

Despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy by experts at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, his family, from Epworth, were given the heart-breaking news that the illness had continued to spread and his chances of survival were very slim. In January 2013, they transferred him to the Bluebell Children’s Hospice in Sheffield where he died, aged seven.

The family are donating £60,000 from an appeal fund set up for the youngster to the Neuroblastoma Children’s Cancer Alliance UK, which will help other children from the region facing the illness.

His father Mark said: “During Lex’s diagnosis and treatment I felt sad, angry and bitter.

“As a father and husband it is your job to look after your family, and during these most terrible of times it was my sole aim to take away the pain from my son, my daughter and my wife.

“My son Lex is no longer in pain but others dealing with this dreadful childhood cancer are.”

Bettina Bungay-Balwah, chief executive of the charity, said: “This hugely generous contribution will help us continue to provide better access to treatment for families affected by neuroblastoma. We hope Alexander’s supporters find some comfort in the knowledge that his appeal money will be used to help others facing neuroblastoma.”