Boys touched by cancer raise funds

Two Sunderland schoolboys who say they “don’t want people battling cancer to suffer” called on guests to donate to charity instead of buying them a gift to celebrate their Holy Communion.

Marshall Steabler and Lennon Gettins, both aged nine, both know first hand what it is like to see someone they love fighting the disease.

Both boys, who attend St Cuthbert’s Primary School in Sunderland, each have a grandmother who has been affected by cancer.

On Saturday, the youngsters’s families held a party following their Holy Communion at South Hylton Working Men’s Club.

Instead of gifts, both Lennon and Marshall asked for donations to be made to charity. A raffle also took place during the celebration with items donated from a range of local businesses.

Both boy’s grandmothers were at the event.

Lennon’s grandmother Karen McClumpha, who is in remission from breast cancer, said: “I think it’s just so selfless what they are doing. Nearly all kids at their age want presents, I just think they are amazing.

“I’m just really proud of them.

She added: “I have never been as proud in all my life. It’s just brilliant.”

Carol Steabler, who is grandmother to Marshall and currently battling lung cancer, said: “They are only bairns, so for them to do what they are doing it’s so nice.

“It just brings so many tears to my eyes. I’m over the moon with what people have donated.”

It is thought about £1,000 has been raised so far for Cancer Research and the Phoenix Unit based within Sunderland Royal Hospital.

Marshall said: “We knew we were having a party so we talked and said we wanted to raise money for cancer as we don’t want people to suffer.”

Lennon said: “It was both our ideas and we are doing it for our nanas.

“I carry on in the house, but when I told my mam what we wanted to do I felt more grown up.

“Thank you to everyone who has helped.”