A HEROIC young athlete and childhood cancer sufferer has vowed to “have as much fun as possible” – despite learning he has suffered a relapse.

Eighteen-year-old Kieran Maxwell, from Heighington, near Darlington, lost his left leg to cancer after being diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma – a rare form of bone cancer – in October 2010.

He carried the Olympic torch through Bishop Auckland during his remission before receiving a second devastating diagnosis in 2013.

The Northern Echo: FLASH BACK: Kieran carrying the Olympic torch through Bishop Auckland in 2012

Inspirational Kieran chose to delay an intense cycle of chemotherapy treatment to compete in a national gymnastics tournament and earned a sprint gold medal during the Brazilian School Paralympics late last year.

However, a chest x-ray during a routine check-up this month revealed that the teenager’s cancer has returned and spread around his heart and lung.

In a post to the Kieran Maxwell Fund Facebook page, Kieran said: “On Friday, October 14, 2016, my dad and I attended my routine clinic appointment at the RVI Newcastle to see Dr Quentin Campbell-Hewson – my wonderful oncologist – and have a chest x-ray.

“We weren't worried about it as I'm doing well in myself. Well we had the x-ray and it was then everything went mental.

“My cancer is back and it’s around my heart and lung. It is quite extensive and has spread.

“I have also decided not to have chemo as it won't give me quality of life and if you haven't had it you don't realise how much it changes you.

“The [doctors] don't know how long I have but I'm aiming to have as much fun as possible.”

The Northern Echo: Heighington teenager Kieran Maxwell won gold at the Brazilian School Paralympics

Kieran Maxwell won gold at the Brazilian School Paralympics in December 2015

Hundreds of friends and strangers have reacted to the news by leaving messages of support for the 18-year-old, who has fundraised for the Ewing's Sarcoma Research Trust, in a bid to find a cure for the rare childhood cancer.

In the post added to Facebook yesterday (Thursday, October 27), Kieran said: “I was hoping to do a sky dive to raise money for Ewing's Sarcoma Research Trust to help fund research so no one else has to go through what my family and I have had to this past six years, but I'm not well enough.

“I'm hoping to do some fun things over the next few weeks – my health permitting – to raise awareness of Ewing's sarcoma and childhood cancer.”

He added: “If you would like to donate to my fundraising page please do so – it may be too late for me, but I hope one day that no family has to have the news that my family has had this past 13 days.”

More than £1,365 has already been raised through Kieran’s online fundraising page in support of the Trust and previous efforts to raise funds for new prosthetic limbs for the Darlington teenager have raised thousands.

To donate to the Kieran Maxwell Fund, visit facebook.com/KieranMaxwellFund/ or uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/displaySomeoneSpecialPage.action?pageUrl=KieranMaxwell