A brave eight-year-old died from brain cancer two years after doctors thought he had contracted a bug.
Lochlan Peckham from Marske-by-the-Sea died last year after being diagnosed with a high-grade glioma brain tumour, which his GP initially thought was a "typical bug."
Parents Ross Peckham, 43, and Sonia, 46, had first noticed something was wrong in June 2019 when Lochland took time off school for a viral sickness bug.
At the time he complained of a "spiky feeling" in his hand.
However, Mr Peckham said his son's condition quickly deteriorated a day after visiting their GP, with the feeling spreading up his arm and his son becoming violently sick.
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He said: “It was just like a typical bug, and the GP thought the same, even though Lochlan said he had a strange spiky feeling in his hand. The GP told us to call 111 if it got worse."
Mr Peckham praised his son's bravery and courage in the face of the disease, and said he exceeded all medical expectations.
He said despite Lochland's fight, his health deteriorated after three months and an MRI scan sadly confirmed the cancer had spread to other parts of his brain.
Unfortunately, no further treatment options were available for Lochland which left his family heartbroken.
On May 2, 2021, Lochlan died surrounded by his loved ones.
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But this week, his father has honoured his son's memory by completing a 55-mile run from Marske-by-the-Sea to the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle for Brain Tumour Research.
He was joined by Andrew Hebden, whose fiancée Dr Rebecca Hill was Lochlan’s lead consultant, and the pair raised more than £4,000.
Mr Peckham said: “There is such a lack of awareness of brain tumours and that is just wrong.
"More funding needs to be assigned to researching this at a national level, in particular, paediatric brain tumour research, if our children are to survive this horrific disease in the future.
“The significance of the journey was huge, but it felt like a really happy moment. If Lochlan’s death can help in any way, that is great and if me running makes a fraction of a difference, then I’d do it ten times over.
“I hope Lochlan would be proud of me.”
The Peckham family have raised more than £5,000 for Brain Tumour Research through fundraising initiatives such as a sponsored walk, and turning their home into ‘Lochlan’s winter wonderland’ last Christmas.
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1 percent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours.
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK, and campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours.
To donate to Brain Tumour Research, visit here
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