Consett lad, 12, with heartbreaking cancer diagnosis thrilled to take part in charity football tournament

A 12-year-old living with cancer was among the youngsters who took part in a very special football tournament ahead of the European Championships.

Consett lad Ethan O'Neill, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma that "spread pretty much everywhere" in February, presented medals at the event, held at Newcastle United's academy. So did Keisha Makin, who is a patient at the Great North Children's Hospital's Stem Cell Transplant Unit.

The event was a partnership between hospital charities the SIr Bobby Robson Foundation and Great North Children's Hospital Foundation, and the Newcastle United Foundation. It allowed youngsters who have been affected by cancer or chronic health issues to stay active and enjoy physical and recreational activities - including with their siblings and family members and, where possible, outside of hospital.

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Ethan’s mam, Lisa Jane O’Neil, was proud to see him getting involved. She said: “Ethan was diagnosed on 22 February with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the cancer spread pretty much all over. So we were in and out of the hospital most days and that’s where we started working with the Foundation.

"It’s really great to have opportunities like this because what he’s going through is awful but little things like this just uplift him. It’s nice to get him out because at the moment he can’t do a lot activity wise and he’s really restricted now as to what he can and can’t do.

"Things like going to the match and coming here today, it gets him out the house, gets me out the house and he’s doing the thing that he enjoys, which is football. You wouldn’t normally get this opportunity, so it’s great that the charities are working together to give him these moments."

Keisha added: "It made a nice day out and got me out of the hospital. It’s nice seeing everyone have a happy time."

Gareth Williams co-ordinates the project. He said: “This project makes an enormous difference to children and their families when they need it most and it was great to see all the enthusiasm from the kids, like Keisha and Ethan, who played or got involved in the football. It’s a treat to play on such professional pitches and I know they were talking about it non-stop afterwards!”

Since the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was launched in 2008, it has helped raise more than £20m to treat and detect cancer, and support those living with it. Both the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and the Great North Children's Hospital Foundation are part of the Newcastle Hospitals Charity.

For more information, please visit: www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.org.uk