Shropshire grandfather’s race against time to raise £500,000 for youngster’s treatment

Dave Perrin, of Lea Cross, near Shrewsbury, is attempting to secure as much funding as possible with the help of family, friends and colleagues, to get urgent medical treatment for his grandson Harry Banks.

Harry, whose mother Nina is also from Shrewsbury and now lives in Milton Keynes, has twice beaten a rare form of cancer known as Neuroblastoma in the last four years, undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, radiotherapy and major surgery.

But doctors now say that the risk of his aggressive cancer cells returning is extremely high, and current treatment methods in the UK are unlikely to be effective.

Trial

“We’ve now run out of treatment options to keep Harry’s condition at bay, so our only hope is a pioneering new trial in the United States where an experimental antibody drug known as 8H9 is fed directly into Harry’s spinal fluid,” Mr Perrin said.

“We have a terrifyingly short window of just a few months to raise funds for this treatment before Harry’s cancer returns, and we’re pulling together to do everything we possibly can to reach our target and help to save his life. No one deserves to go through what Harry’s been through, but he really is the most wonderful little boy and has shown incredible courage.”

So far the Mad About Harry appeal has raised £120,000 with help of support from cricketers Darren Gough and Alastair Cook who have both shared Harry’s story on social media.

Cook posted a picture of himself with Harry and said: “This is smiley, cheeky 10-year-old Harry who loves to play and watch cricket.

“Unfortunately Harry desperately needs help. Mad About Harry aims to raise £500,000 for a ground-breaking medical trial, one that the NHS cannot provide. One that could be his lifeline. Let’s help Harry in any way that we can.”

To read Harry’s story and make a donation, visit www.gofundme.com/madaboutharry