We have a very special cause that'll we be raising money for over the next couple of months.

Ellie Starkwood (CS Training Consultant & Learning Analyst, Bristol) and her family are currently fundraising for her 5 year old niece Poppy's neuroblastoma treatment. They have £250,000 to raise and we want to do all we can to help them on their way.

Here's her full story, as written by her family, below:

Poppy's Story

In April 2020 Poppy's little brother Oscar was born and around this time she started complaining of pain in her legs, was increasingly more tired and lethargic and gradually started eating less. She became clingy and depressed which the family put down to jealousy and confusion as she'd just become a big sister and the world was in lockdown due to a global pandemic.

As her leg pain got worse, Poppy's mum Claire eventually contacted the GP and had a telephone appointment due to Covid restrictions. A blood test was arranged at Bedford hospital in which an iron deficiency was confirmed. A few days later the family were told their GP wanted to see Poppy in person as he was concerned after reviewing her blood test results in more detail.

After checking her over, they were then sent to see a paediatrician at Bedford hospital straight away for more tests and scans. A chest x-ray finally revealed a large tumour at the back left-hand side of Poppy's chest cavity, wrapped around her heart and pushing against one of her lungs. We were told straight away it was cancer.

Our world came crashing down around us in seconds, unable to comprehend what was happening. We refused to believe it at first, insisting that our little girl who's always been the picture of health couldn't possibly have cancer, says Poppy's parents, Claire and Ross.

Poppy and her dad were sent in an ambulance that night to Addenbrookes whilst mum Claire stayed at home with 3-month-old Oscar.

A biopsy and scans revealed that the cancer had spread all over her body and Poppy was officially diagnosed with stage 4 high-risk neuroblastoma on 24th July 2020, just weeks before her 5th birthday.

Treatment

Since her diagnosis in July 2020, Poppy has endured 13 rounds of chemotherapy with side effects such as sickness and hair loss. The treatments have cleared a lot of the cancer cells but not enough to move onto the next stage yet. She is currently taking part in a clinical trial at UCLH and Southampton Hospital with the hope of clearing even more of the cancer cells. The radiation treatment she had at UCLH required her to be in an isolation room for 10 days with only minimal contact allowed with her parents.

If the trial is successful Poppy will still have surgery, high-dose chemotherapy with stem-cell rescue, radiotherapy and immunotherapy to complete her frontline treatment. She has had 1 of her ovaries removed and preserved for the future and a stem cell harvest for future use. She's had countless general anaesthetics, injections, bone marrow biopsies, CT scans and MIBG scans and relies on tube feeds as her main source of nutrition as her appetite has decreased and she often feels nauseous.

"Despite everything, Poppy stays happy, caring and cheeky and makes everyone laugh wherever she goes" says Claire. "We're so proud of her inner strength and resilience at having to cope with things that no child should ever have to go through."

During Poppy's treatment, only 1 parent has been allowed to stay with Poppy at the hospital because of new covid restrictions which has been a real strain on the family. Oscar will turn 1 at the end of April but the siblings have had to spend weeks apart due to Poppy's treatment.

Poppy's Fundraising Campaign

Poppy's family are raising funds for further treatment, either to get their daughter into remission or to try and keep the cancer away if treatment does go to plan. This could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds.

How you can help

There are many ways you can help Poppy: by making a personal donation; by sharing her story on Facebook, holding a fundraising event; getting sponsored to take on a challenge.

You can make a donation via this page.

If you'd like to help to support Poppys campaign, please get in touch with the fundraising team on 0207 284 0800 and fundraising@solvingkidscancer.org.uk