Yahoo News Boy, 8, continues Christmas charity toy appeal despite battling cancer
An eight-year-old cancer sufferer has continued his Christmas appeal to give sick children toys despite his own ongoing illness.
Elliott Furse started the “Elliott Christmas Appeal” two years ago and has so far generated a "huge volume of toys" for kids at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.
He came up with the idea himself while he was making his list for Santa and said he wanted to help others instead of receiving the latest toys.
And despite battling a "substantial" brain tumour, his proud parents said he has been determined to continue with the campaign for a third year.
Elliott, who is one of five children, started his appeal in 2018 when he was just six years old.
"They were all writing up their lists for Santa and Elliott's had absolutely nothing on it," Mr Furse said.
"Elliott told us 'I've got everything I need, I'd rather money went to children who don't have anything'. It was an unbelievably sweet gesture."
Elliott has undergone two major operations this year alone since he collapsed in his bedroom in July and was rushed to Bristol Children's Hospital.
He has also been through six weeks of intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy and lost control of his arms, legs and speech.
After undergoing rehabilitation to help get his speech back and dexterity in his arms, he is now recovering at home in Cornwall.
But his dad Christian Furse, 37, of Gulval, Cornwall, said his son's thoughts instantly turned to helping others.
He added: "Once Elliott was able to talk again, he immediately mentioned his Christmas appeal. We told him to give it a rest for this year but he was insistent."
The family have since set up a JustGiving page which has raised more than £3,000 for toys to donate.
"I couldn't be prouder," Furse added, “The fact he wants to help others despite having the worst time ever.
"He knows how hard hospitals are - especially for kids over a COVID Christmas. The maturity and wisdom he has shown has surpassed any of our expectations."
Speaking about his diagnosis, he said: "There are no other words to describe it, other than utterly devastating.
"Elliott has done a fundraiser for his local hospital for the last couple of years and has always been very kind, caring and thoughtful to others.
"No child deserves what Elliott has and he has always thought of others before him which makes it especially hard.
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