Friends rally around five-year-old boy with cancer

A five-year-old boy whose limp turned out to be a rare cancer is being supported by friends who have raised thousands of pounds to help his family during his treatment.

Emilio, from Ramsgate, was diagnosed with high-risk metastatic neuroblastoma after developing a limp, tiredness and a temperature.

His mother, Mary, said his symptoms were first thought to be a hip condition or a virus, but after his condition worsened, Emilio was admitted to hospital in Kent, where scans found a mass. She said: "Our entire world has changed in just a few weeks."

A fundraising campaign to help the family has already raised more than £4,700 towards a £7,000 target.

Mary says Emilio is now being treated at The Royal Marsden, where he is expected to undergo about 80 days of chemotherapy, with further treatment also anticipated.

She said it was incredible how resilient Emilio had been, describing how he started steroids and emergency chemotherapy, and the next day said to her: "Mummy, I want to go to school. I want to play."

Mary also spoke about how difficult it was to recognise symptoms and is calling for more awareness of childhood cancers among families as well as medics, adding: "You are your child's voice."

Experts have recently urged people to follow a national campaign to raise awareness and improve diagnosis time, which includes a rule-of-three for professionals.

The rule is that if a child has had three persistent symptoms, or has visited their doctor three times, or has had three weeks of unexplained symptoms, consider making a referral.

Last year, comedian Alan Carr also raised the profile of the charity Neuroblastoma UK after he donated his Celebrity Traitors' winnings to the cause.

Mary said: "I had a five-year-old happy boy playing football and going to school and suddenly to be told this news.

"I'm in disbelief."

Mary said Emilio was now in the "best place" being cared for at the Royal Marsden.

She described family friends Tara and her fiancée Gemma as "amazing".

She said they had allowed her to cry, shout, vent, be angry and frustrated during the family's ordeal.

Tara set up the fundraising campaign to help with costs including travel between Kent and London, accommodation, household bills and lost income while Emilio undergoes treatment.

As part of the campaign, Tara pledged to have her head shaved before chemotherapy caused Emilio's hair to fall out - a challenge which is set to take place on Saturday.

Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, X, and on Instagram and listen to BBC Radio Kent on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.