A DAD, whose six-year-old son was diagnosed with leukaemia is raising awareness of a children's charity by cycling from his home in Loftus to the RVI Hospital in Newcastle.

Six-year-old Isaac was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, a type of blood cancer starting from young white blood cells called lymphocytes in the bone marrow.

At first he was admitted for two days to two weeks but now he travels the sixty-odd miles every other Thursday for treatment at the RVI. Many families who visit the RVI for treatment have been supported by the Children’s Cancer North charity which provides various activities, bravery rewards, games and end of treatment gifts.

To say thank you and raise awareness of the charity dad Shaun Winspear and a group of sixteen fundraisers are to cycle from Loftus to the RVI to raise funds.

Shaun said: “It may not be the longest ride but it highlights the amount of travelling that cancer families go through. We hope to help the charity to fund the activities they provide such as the play room, pre-Covid-19, Lego, painting, games consoles, and the animation team which visits the ward.”

The children also get treats and rewards for being brave during some of the more unpleasant aspects of their treatment. Amongst the worst is having the port accessed.

This is a small button under the skin near the collar bone where the medicines are introduced. This can be extremely distressing as the child often needs to be restrained while the treatment can be administered.

This can involve both parents, two nurses and a member of the play team.

It has a huge emotional impact on all the family, not just the patient.

The bike ride takes place on Saturday, June 5. It leaves Loftus Cricket and Athletic Club at 7am. The duration of the ride is expected to be seven to eight hours.