A mum has revealed she is “overwhelmed” as teachers and pupils have joined together to raise over £10,000 for her teenage son after he was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer.
Kieran Smart, 15, was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in September last year – seven months after first going to the doctors with complaints of severe pain in his legs.
His family initially thought the pain could be down to Kieran’s love of football, but were instead shocked when he was diagnosed with the rare condition following a series of tests and scans.
His mum, Leanne, told STV News: “Kieran was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma in September last year. He had been in and out of hospital after complaining about a sore leg from his hip down to his knee for a few years.
“We put it down to playing football. He trained twice a week and played at the weekends.
“Its been so hard on all of us but Kieran’s got us through it. From day one he has said ‘I just need to get on with it’, so that’s what we have all done.”
Leanne has paid tribute to Kieran’s school, Castlebrae High in Edinburgh, after teachers and pupils raised more than £10,000 through a programme of events and a crowdfunding campaign, which more than 300 people donated to.
The fundraising continues this weekend, with a team of dedicated teachers taking on the Edinburgh Marathon in the final leg of events to raise funds.
The raised cash will be used to make a donation to the cancer ward currently supporting the 15-year-old.
“The support from our family and friends and now the school has got us through it, its amazing. It’s overwhelming,” Leanne continued.
“To be a mum living and brought up in the community and to have a school that are supporting and been so supportive, is just amazing.
“You know, They are our family now.”
Among those to have taken part in the fundraiser are Kieran’s fellow school pupils, who described him as “one of our own”.
One pupil said: “When someone’s not well or someone’s down, everyone rallies around. And it was one of our own.
“Someone from our own school, someone that was very popular, even the younger ones that are taking part in the event at the weekend, they are all friends and all got close links to Kieran.”
Another youngster said Kieran “deserves the support” and spoke about the shock of hearing about his diagnosis.
They said: “When I found out that he was diagnosed with cancer, I was quite shocked.
“So, doing this means a lot to me and also towards Kieran and his family. Kieran is a nice man and he deserves the support.
“We need to show awareness for him. Make sure people help him. It’s a small community, but it’s a very supportive community and everyone’s so close.”
Kieran has now finished chemotherapy, and he and his family now face an anxious wait ahead of his final MRI scan on May 31.
Leanne said she is sure her “trooper” son has “smashed it” and he can hopefully look forward to getting back to school.
She added: “Kieran’s finished his last chemo on Friday there, and he’s got an MRI on the 31st on this month.
“So, we take it from there and hopefully cancer’s all gone and Kieran smashed it. And I’m sure he will have because he’s been a trooper all the way through. And he is coming back to school after the summer.”
You can support Kieran here.
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