A MUM trying to raise £500,000 in the hope of saving her son's life has described the response from the public as 'amazing'.
An appeal to fund private centre treatment for Worcester five-year-old Oscar Saxelby-Lee has reached nearly £53,000 in just three days.
Olivia Saxelby and Jamie Lee made the desperate plea after discovering that, despite Oscar undergoing a stem cell transplant, the leukaemia he has been suffering from since December had returned.
Olivia said: “So far the response has been amazing and the money is going up by the hour.
"Please, if you haven’t already, donate to help save our beautiful boy. We are in a race against time.”
Oscar’s family launched the appeal after being given the devastating news that no further curative treatments are available on the NHS.
His parents are now pinning their hopes on Oscar either being able to start a new trial called CAR-T in Singapore or have a second stem cell transplant – but neither treatment is available on the NHS.
Olivia added: “With Oscar remaining unbelievably strong and with much fight left in him, we just have to try everything and anything to save him.”
Yesterday, Oscar’s headteacher also made a desperate plea for schools, individuals and businesses to back the campaign.
Kate Wilcock, headteacher at Pitmaston Primary School, in St John’s, said the school was launching an ‘Oscar day’ on Friday, October 11.
They have asked other schools and businesses to hold a non-uniform or dress down day in exchange for a £1 donation.
She said: “In a dream world we need everyone, not just in Worcestershire but in the whole country, to get behind this and all take part in ‘Oscar’s Day.
"It is so simple to just advertise ‘Oscar’s day’ where we can come to work or school in home clothes - £1 per pupil in every school, £1 per work colleague could be thousands and thousands of pounds. We can do this together, I know we can.”
Back in March, thousands queued at the school to register as stem cell donors after hearing of Oscar’s story. Mrs Wilcock urged them all to display posters and car stickers advertising the campaign.
Oscar is being supported by the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust and any money not used for Oscar’s treatment will go to the Trust, which raises awareness about childhood cancers and supports research into kinder treatments.
To donate to the appeal, text 5OSCAR 5 to 70085 to donate £5. This costs £5 plus the cost of a standard rate message. Or text 5OSCAR 10 to 70085 to donate £10. This costs £10 plus a standard rate message. Or text 5OSCAR 20 to 70085 to donate £20.
You can also donate by visiting https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/HandinHandforOscar
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