**FUNDRAISING APPEAL**

**UPDATE, 13th December**

Devastatingly, Charlie lost his fight on the 12th December. The end was very sudden and a massive shock but we're grateful at least that it was fairly quick and he didn't suffer.

RIP brave warrior. Humourous and resilient to the end. Deepest condolences to Toni, Mark, Jess and Oliver, and all of Charlie's family and friends.

We're now fundraising to settle his medical bills and to pay for his funeral, to give him a truly special send-off fit for this young soldier taken way too soon.

Much love, Team Charlie x

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Charlie is just 13 years old and no one at such a young age should be going through what he's had to endure. Life, as some of us know, just isn't fair.

After being given the all clear after he was diagnosed with a brain tumour called a Medulloblastoma in 2013 when Charlie was just 8 years old, his cancer returned to his spine in November 2019 and he was given weeks to live. It was news that almost destroyed Charlie's family. They along with so many people just couldn't believe it.

He received urgent treatment in Germany before flying home to continue his fight. Earlier this year he was fitted with a reservoir under his scalp to enable chemo to be administered directly to his spine. Mercifully this method involved no horrendous side effects normally associated with this drug.

Devastatingly for Charlie and his beloved family, his scan in March revealed that the treatment wasn't working. The cancer had actually spread to other areas on his spine. The treatment was stopped and the NHS said there was nothing more they could do for him.

Charlie has been self-isolating with mum Toni at home and with other potential options off the table owing to the global spread of COVID-19, Toni became more determined that she wasn't going to just watch her lovely boy deteriorate and die, particularly when he's actually doing so well. In the past few weeks he's been enjoying life in the garden and welcomed new canine playmate Ernie. While Charlie is well it's impossible to accept that there is simply nothing she can do as he continues to defy doctors. As any other mother would do, she's never stopped fighting for her son and she believes now is not the time to simply give in.

There is hope with CAR-T Cell Therapy treatment in Mexico. A lawyer can also assist the family with flying there at a time when access is very limited owing to COVID-19, which is a huge relief for them.

This is all unfolding fast, but to get Charlie to Mexico we're raising funds for him ASAP. The treatment will cost £25,000 including accommodation & living expenses, £16,000 of which we've already raised. Somehow we need to raise another £9,000, but we can do this!!! We're never giving up on Charlie, so we'll do whatever it takes to reach our goal and get him there.

As anyone who is close to Charlie or the hundreds of supporters who have followed his story on Facebook know, he's one in a million. He's approached every hurdle thrown at him in his young life the same way as he deals with life in general: with great humour, resilience and courage. He's quite simply incredible.

Everyone loves Charlie. We're keeping him so go and do one, cancer!

PLEASE give whatever you can, RE-TWEET & SHARE, spread the word, help us however you can with this fundraiser and not least of all, THANKYOU from the bottom of our hearts for your support.

Let's do this for Charlie!

With gratitude and love as always,

Claire (on behalf of Charlie's family) xx