Tragic Saul’s brave fight is part of cancer campaign
THE story of a nineyear-old schoolboy who died after battling an incredibly rare childhood cancer will be shared across Britain as part of a national campaign.
Saul Chapman, from Helmshore, endured an 11-month fight against his disease, but tragically passed away on September 16, 2014.
To mark this month’s two-year anniversary of his death, Saul’s parents, Tony and Deborah Chapman, have shared his story in newspapers and websites around the country as part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
Toby said the decision to tell Saul’s story in such a public way wasn’t an easy one but he is convinced that it needed to be told.
He said: “It is a bit daunting, but since Saul passed away I have become more aware of Child Cancer Awareness Month and we decided we had an opportunity to help increase awareness by telling our personal experience.
“It is a sad story but that’s one of the points we’re trying to make. Childhood cancer does not get enough funding and research and that needs to change.
“You never get over losing your child and you have to learn to deal with the different feelings, but we felt like it was the right time to do this.”
The St Veronica’s RC primary pupil was diagnosed with a desmoplastic small round cell tumour – an extremely rare form of aggressive cancer – in November 2013.
This September is particularly significant for the Chapman family, as it not only marks the anniversary of Saul’s death, but it would also be the month they would be seeing him join his brother Archie at ‘big school’.
Toby said: “It’s sad and poignant as Saul’s close friends are all leaving and moving on, but Saul’s memorial garden is still there, and he will always be a pupil at St Veronica’s.
“For me the memories of that time will always be fresh – as if it was yesterday, and I don’t think that will ever go away.”
Toby has also highlighted the share of research funding that is channelled into finding cures and treatment for cancers like Saul’s.
He said: “Research into rare childhood cancer is grossly underfunded.
“They say the problem is they can’t get enough children to conduct clinical trials, but when you put all the rare cancers together it’s the biggest killer of children under 18.
“It’s a much bigger problem than people perhaps realise.”