Stan is year 2 at Elm Park. You may have seen him or heard him in the playground at the beginning or end of the day. Stan was diagnosed with cancer during the school holidays on August 5th. His life changed that day. A date that will stay in the minds of all those who love and care for him.

Stan is scared - but he is a warrior who will fight this horrible disease with everything he has.  He is surrounded by the love of his family and friends, who are with him every step of his journey.

From the time he was diagnosed he has wanted to help other children who have cancer.

He is just beginning his long and painful journey of chemotherapy, followed by surgery and more chemotherapy. Unfortunately, being six he has little idea of what to expect.

People have asked how they can help, or what they can do. Adults around Stan have very few ideas as to what would be helpful so they asked Stan.

Stan said that he would like the Cancer Service to have more money at the hospital he is being treated at. This service lays within Bristol Children’s Hospital (BCH) who treat many children of all ages going through many forms of Cancer.

Types of Cancer in children and young people are many and varied and the Cancer Service in BCH are exceptional in their treatment of this vile disease.

At times our most needed services are overwhelmed with numbers of patients and unfortunately underfunded. Treating childhood Cancer is of paramount importance and services shouldn’t be in this situation.

It isn’t just about the medical help - there’s also psychological support, which is vital for their mental health. Fear, frustration, anger are ordinary emotions but when something like Cancer is added to the mix - emotions often become overwhelming. Why wouldn’t they?

Children spend hours and often days hooked up to machines while having treatment. Not only do they feel ill but it is also boring. The things they love to do in their ordinary, daily lives practically stop. They need things to interest them; distract them from that boredom that can become resentment or depression.

All kinds of things add up to treatment. Please help Stan to support other children who are going through this ordeal so that hopefully they can return to full health - physically and emotionally.

PLEASE COME ALONG TO ELM PARK PRIMARY BS36 1NF ON 15TH OCTOBER AT 2PM TO SEE STAN'S FAMILY, FRIENDS AND TEACHERS HAVING THEIR HEADS SHAVED WITH STAN.

Thank you.