Spurs fan, 10, celebrates beating leukaemia with 5km GOSH charity run

Cancer free: Rowan Pethard warms up for the run to raise money for Great Ormond Street in Hyde Park
Jeremy Selwyn

A boy aged 10 will celebrate being cancer free by taking part in a 5km charity run — months after his mother saved his life when he collapsed at home.

Football fan Rowan Pethard was diagnosed with leukaemia in March 2015, when he was six.

He underwent five rounds of chemotherapy and had lumbar punctures every 12 weeks for almost four years to test if the leukaemia had spread to his spinal fluid.

The intensive treatment meant that Rowan has been left with permanent mobility problems, including weakened limbs. But he will run in the race to raise money for the doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital who saved him.

Last month, Rowan finished his treatment and was allowed to ring a special “end of treatment” bell at the hospital in central London. His mother, Abby, 42, from Hemel Hempstead, said: “It was wonderful. A massive relief. Rowan said it was the best day of his life.”

Rowan with parents Abby and Steve and grandparents
Andy Roast

Just five months earlier, Rowan had collapsed at home, banged his head and stopped breathing.

Mrs Pethard resuscitated him and he was taken by ambulance to hospital where doctors once again saved his life. A rotten tooth had given him sepsis because his immune system had been weakened by chemotherapy.

His mother said: “Thank God I worked in childcare, so I had done a paediatric first aid course and I knew what I had to do. It was a shock. He certainly keeps us on our toes.”

Rowan ringing GOSH’s “end of treatment” bell
Andy Roast

Mrs Pethard paid tribute to her son, saying he had “smiled all the way through” his cancer treatment and even insisted that his anaesthetist tell him jokes so that he could be put to sleep laughing every time he had his procedures.

She said: “Seeing your child being put to sleep isn’t the nicest experience but there he was laughing his head off as he goes to sleep. It was nice for me to see. He’s a bit of a character.”

Rowan Pethard with brother Corey and Harry Kane (Handout )
Handout

When Tottenham Hotspur , Rowan’s favourite football team, heard about his treatment he got a home visit from midfielder Harry Winks . He also got to meet Spurs striker and England captain Harry Kane after his brother Charlie invited Rowan’s family to watch a match from his box.

On Saturday October 13, Rowan and his family and friends will take part in a 5k fun run, RBC Race For The Kids in Hyde Park, in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

  • For more information: gosh.org/raceforthekids

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