Harry’s Appeal launches

LITTLE SUPERHERO

APPEALS FOR YOUR HELP TO FUND RESEARCH!

Although six-year-old Harry St Ledger’s ear infection cleared up with the help of antibiotics, it soon returned. This time it was worse and a few days later his face collapsed on one side.

After a series of scans, what should have been a straightforward procedure to insert a grommet in his ear lasted an unbearable three hours. Harry’s parents were given the devastating news that he had a rare brain tumour – a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) – a high-grade tumour with a shockingly poor prognosis. An extremely bright and loving child, Harry taught himself to read before he started to talk. He has a near-photographic memory and has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, something that has complicated his brain tumour treatment.

Harry is a massive Spider-Man fan. For him, his superhero is real. Like many children undergoing radiotherapy, he had to wear a mesh mask so that the treatment could be delivered with pinpoint accuracy. To help him cope with the experience, he was asked how he wanted his mask decorated. He chose the face of his favourite superhero. Harry also loves football. The players at Portsmouth FC gave Harry a fantastic day when the club chose him as their mascot for the Easter Monday match. Cairan and Fiona, Harry’s parents, are frightened to think of what lies ahead but are trying to stay strong. Fiona said: “Harry is aware that he has something in his brain. We know that we have the fight of our lives ahead of us but we’ll battle on. The prognosis for kids with a DIPG is extremely bleak; it is incurable and treatment options are very limited.” Fiona is now calling for everyone to help fund vital research into brain tumours: “We’ve launched our JustGiving appeal to raise money so that we can prevent families in the future from having to go through the same devastating experience.”

Harry at Fratton Park

Please donate to

Harry’s appeal and help prevent other children having to go through the pain and distress of living with a brain tumour: www.justgiving.com/ campaign/spidermanharry

Harry at home with Portsmouth FC players, Conor Chaplin and Kal Naismith Cairan, Fiona, Harry and his sister, Emonie