A YEAR after being diagnosed with a rare cancer of the larynx, this teenager is aiming to raise cash for other children.
Jak Barbour, 13, of Hildyard Street, Grimsby, is one of only four children in the UK and 50 in the world to have been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma.
After being diagnosed on May 8, 2012, he appealed for readers of the Grimsby Telegraph to send him get well soon cards to help him stay positive through the gruelling treatment – which saw him endure adult doses of chemotherapy.
He now has more than 5,000 cards – all of which he has stored away – and, six months after being told he is cancer free, he is now appealing for your help again.
This time he is looking for volunteers to help him organise a big summer fundraising party for kids and adults, which he hopes will help him give something back to all those who helped him through his fight.
Although he is currently off school with an infection – the chemotherapy left his immune system severely compromised – Jak's determination to help others is as clear as it is endearing.
He said: "I want to hold it somewhere with a restaurant, so we can have a buffet and have lots of fun things to do.
"We could have a raffle and donation buckets and, if we could get someone famous there, that would be even better!"
It's been an emotional 12 months for his family, who were initially told Jak only had a 25 per cent chance of survival.
His proud mum Kezz said she could not believe the bravery he had displayed in fighting the disease and the suffering he has had to endure to do so.
"Before Jak got poorly, when I heard the word cancer, I just thought it was something you never recover from," she said.
"Now he's back at school and doing well, he's out playing with his friends and doing physical education again... it's wonderful."
Now she, like Jak – who hopes to become a game designer in the computer industry – hopes the community will help the family repay those who helped them.
She explained: "We want to raise money for Clic Sargent, the Starlight Children's Foundation and Ward M3 at Sheffield Children's Hospital."
Jak added: "I also want to thank my family, friends – especially my best friend Jordan Burditt, as well as Lauren Myall and George Holness, of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Scooter Club, and Steve and Bev Wakefield, owners of Ryan's Cabin, who held a collection for me."
ON THE WEB: For more on Jak's story, visit www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk If you can help, contact the Telegraph's chief reporter, Sarah Carey, by calling 01472 372213 or by e-mailing sarah.carey@gsmg.co.uk
