A BRAVE Evesham four-year-old is tackling leukaemia rather than lessons after missing out on his first day at school.
Drew Howard-Carter should have joined big brother Jude at St Andrew’s CE First School but instead is undergoing intensive chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Despite the challenge, Drew and his family are supporting TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good, in aid of Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People.
Each bag of pre-loved clothes donated to the store – which has branches in Evesham and Cheltenham – could raise up to £25 to help fund Cancer Research UK’s research into children’s and young people’s cancers.
Concerned parents Jason and Su took action after Drew’s fourth birthday party in May was marred by the youngster feeling tired and feverish.
Multiple GP visits and antibiotics couldn’t solve the problem and Drew became paler and paler, with fevers and sweats at night.
After being referred to the Worcestershire Royal for blood tests and a blood transfusion, the diagnosis was confirmed at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Dad Jason said: “The first few days were brutal. He had so many medicines, needles and tubes in his body, he had a central line put in, he had bone marrow biopsies, lumbar punctures under anaesthetic, all within the space of hours and days – even an adult wouldn’t have coped.
“Jude became frightened Drew was going to die. At one point he said he wished he could have leukaemia instead of Drew, because Drew was ‘too little for it’.
“That was heart-breaking because Jude is only six.”
Since May, Drew has been in and out of hospital in the early phases of a two-year treatment plan and the current treatment has left him unable to start school.
“Drew was looking forward to starting school. He enjoyed nursery and he knew he was going to Jude’s school, so he was excited,” mum Su said.
“The school has been great and we know Drew will catch up – it’s just going to be a bit of a journey.
“Drew is getting the best treatment and his type of cancer is curable: not every parent is as lucky as us,” she said.
Su pledged she and Drew would have a ‘good clear out’ to find items to donate as any unwanted items could save lives.
In Worcestershire and the West Midlands around 160 children are diagnosed with cancer every year.
Cancer Research UK has funded pioneering research into understanding different types of childhood leukaemia, which has improved the way children are treated today meaning more children like Drew survive.
Clothes can be donated at any TK Maxx store and supporters can also help by wearing a gold ribbon badge – the awareness symbol of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Visit cruk.org/childrenandyoungpeople for more.
VIDEO: More on Drew’s story
