Liam's swim

Eleven year old Liam Fairhurst from Soham, Cambridgeshire is celebrating having been off cancer treatment for a year by attempting a one mile sponsored swim this December in aid of CLIC Sargent. In doing so, he will also be honouring the memory of his friend, 12 year old Jack Wilkinson, who he met on the hospital ward and sadly passed away in August this year.

Liam was diagnosed with a tumour in his leg in June 2005 and underwent six months of treatment including chemotherapy, an operation and radiotherapy. His treatment finally ended on 22 December 2005 and to mark the anniversary, Liam set himself the massive challenge of swimming one mile to help others affected by childhood cancer.

Liam says: “When I had the tumour removed from my leg they also removed half the muscle from my thigh. I still find walking quite hard so I decided to do a swimming challenge instead. It will probably be quite difficult because a mile is quite a long way, but I’m really excited about it and doing lots of training.

“I’m going to donate the money I raise to CLIC Sargent. They’re a charity that helps families who’ve got children with cancer and leukaemia. They really helped me and my family and that is why I am trying to do something for them.”

To spur Liam on, the local community is really getting behind the attempt; local radio station, Star 107, has launched a campaign to help raise funds; the Cambridge Toyota dealership is lending the family a car to get Liam to training and back; and the Next Generation gym in Cambridge will be hosting the event, dedicating their pool for Liam’s sole use on the day and providing a personal trainer in the run-up to the event.

Karen Roberts, Assistant Community Fundraising Manager for CLIC Sargent, says: “Liam will be taking the plunge on December 22 and we hope local people will show their support and sponsor him to help make the challenge a success. He has set up an online donation site and more than £4,000 has already been pledged.

“All the money raised by Liam will help CLIC Sargent support families by providing financial grants, free accommodation near treatment centres, family holidays and activities as well as funding childhood cancer specialists. At Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge, we currently fund 11 posts including nurses, social workers, a play specialist, a youth worker and a child and family worker – all of whom make a real difference to families in need of support.”

Anybody wishing to support Liam can log onto www.justgiving.com/liamsmile