Billingham's Billy Marin diagnosed with incurable cancer

Billy Marin, 3, was diagnosed with cancer for the first time in April 2020, just before his first birthday, and again in December.

The three-year-old from Teesside was given the all clear after successful long treatment programmes on both occasions and was looking forward to a cancer-free future.

But his devastated parents are now having to come to terms with the news that the cancer has returned and no further treatment is possible.

“Unfortunately they said that he’s had all the treatment he could have been given and it would be really dangerous to keep giving him any more,” said family friend Paul Homer.

“It’s a horrible situation, they’re just taking each day as it comes.”

The Marin family

READ MORE: Billy is home for Christmas after cancer treatment

Billy had benefited from treatment at the RVI in Newcastle and specialist radiotherapy in Germany over the past year and a half.

However, the cancer returned in August and doctors have now warned any further treatment would have a detrimental impact on his health.

Paul added: “We were all very confident that he had beaten it, put it behind him, and moved on. But instead the family are passing Billy onto palliative care in a month.”

Mum Louise and dad Daniel now plan to spend the little time they have left with their son by creating memories through visiting places on Billy’s bucket list.

Devastated by the news, family friend Paul said he thought “I can’t sit here and do nothing” and rallied his friends together to think of fundraising ideas to raise funds for the family.

Paul Homer and friends will clim the Three Peaks to raise money for the Marin family

The group of eight will tackle the UK’s three highest peaks within 24 hours without sleeping on September 25 and have already raised more than £5,000.

“We all settled on tackling the three peaks and we’re trying to raise as much money as we can for Billy so he can enjoy what time he does have left,” Paul said.

“This will be one of the biggest challenges we will ever put ourselves through and will certainly push us to our limits.

“Even if it is for funeral money it will help. The family are just trying to enjoy the time they have left. “

Donations can be made at: justgiving.com/crowdfunding/raisingmoneyforthemarins.

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