Selfless boy suffering with cancer raises money for Bristol Children’s Hospital Grand Appeal

Stanley Weeks, a Year 2 student at Elm Park Primary school in Winterbourne, was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer, at the beginning of August after his mum Jess, discovered a lump whilst on a family holiday to Italy

Stan was X-rayed at an Italian hospital and advised to return to the UK immediately after doctors were concerned with the lump in his leg.

Following his swift diagnosis Stan began treatment at Bristol Children’s Hospital where after losing his hair following his first doses of chemotherapy, the kind youngster said he would like to help the cancer services at the BCH with funding to support other children going through many forms of cancer.

Dad Simon, a facilities manager at the BRI said the distraught parents have been honest and explained to Stan what his situation is but at just six, the youngster has little idea of what to expect.

He said people began to ask how they could help, and Stan told them he wanted to help other children who have cancer.

Now, more than ten people including Simon, Stan’s grandmother and his ‘phenomenal’ headteacher Carol Bond are braving the shave with Stan to raise money for the Grand Appeal, a charity that supports children being treated at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Simon said: “When Stan was diagnosed everyone asked how they could help- he is such an active little boy normally he would be swimming and riding his bike- so we initially said if anyone could help with funds for a dry suit to allow him in the water – that would be great, the money was raised in hours- we were completely overwhelmed.

“After that Stan said he wanted to help other children with cancer so we decided to raise money and awareness of the grand appeal.

“Children spend hours and often days hooked up to machines while having treatment. Not only do they feel ill but it is also boring. So we want to help.

“We can't thank people enough for their support so far, it's been very hard as a family and we are trying to keep things normal, especially for Stan and his brother Harry who is only nine.

Stanley and Harry (Image: Newsquest)

“We are trying to do things as family as and when we can as well, but it's nice for Stan to be able to be at school as much as possible.

“His teachers, especially the head have gone way above and beyond to keep him safe and to keep as much normality as possible him and Harry.

“For Mrs Bond to be having her head shaved for his cause just shows not only how brilliant she is as a teacher, but as a human being.

"We collected Stan from school to take him for treatment and the whole playground waved him off- it was a really emotional moment to physically see the support he has.“

Stan has nine months of chemotherapy before surgery but the family are optimistic.

Simon added: “Christmas won't be as normal but we will make the best of it, at the moment our focus is on getting Stan fixed and back to full health- and hopefully along the way we can raise some money and awareness to help others.”

Shave with Stan will take place at Elm Park school on October 15.

For more information go to justgiving.com/fundrising/shavewithstan or to support the family go to tinyurl.com/yc8k8v9h