Archie’s charity drive
Dad Andi on how hisinspirational son is helping other kids beat the disease
The parents of a little boy who was diagnosed with cancer say he never fails to amaze them with his bravery.
Andi and Lisa Galloway, from Bathgate, thought three-year-old son Archie had a bad case of tonsillitis, but were devastated to be told he had cancer.
And despite the little boy fighting the disease himself, he is helping other children who are also seriously ill.
To mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Archie is launching TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign, in support of Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People.
His dad said:“This year has been the hardest year of our lives. We have down days and moments when we just think, how are we here? But Archie’s incredible bravery and resilience, even during the most difficult times in 2020 has kept us going.”
A brave West Lothian boy is helping children to beat cancer — despite fighting the disease himself.
Archie Galloway (3) was diagnosed with cancer as the Covid- 19 pandemic hit Scotland and has been chosen to launch a campaign to help save lives.
Archie’s family’s world was turned upside down after the devastating cancer news on March 6 this year.
I t meant starting chemotherapy immediately then this spring he faced a second hurdle after getting pneumonia.
Now, to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this month, Archie is launching TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign, in support of Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People.
He is one of around 140 youngsters who are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every year.
His family are urging people to help more children and young people survive cancer by donating pre- loved quality clothes, accessories and homeware they no longer need to their nearest TK Maxx store.
Archie’s parents, Andi and Lisa Galloway, from Bathgate, said they are hugely proud of their little
Archie really never fails to amaze us
boy, who needs three years in total of treatment.
They know first hand how important research is in helping to save more lives.
Andi, a station commander with the Scottish Fire Service, said: “Archie never fails to amaze us.
“This year has been the hardest year of our lives. We have down days and moments when we just think, how are we here? But Archie’s incredible bravery and resilience, even during the most difficult times in 2020 has kept us going.”
The couple vividly recall that moment at Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children on March 6 when they were told that Archie had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer of the while blood cells - on the day before Archie’s sister Leah’s first birthday.
Since last November, Archie had been battling exhaustion, stopped eating properly and had what was thought at first to be a bad case of tonsillitis.
But at Christmas when Archie was too unwell to even enjoy opening his presents alarm bells rang. Mum Lisa who is a teacher at Uphall Primary school said it was heartbreaking to watch her son’s decline.
At first it was suspected that Archie had a condition known as severe aplastic anaemia which was stopping his immune system from working properly.
Archie seemed to slowly improve after blood transfusions and antibiotics to treat the infections that were attacking his body.
But it was a hammer blow in March when further tests showed Archie had cancer. It had taken longer to diagnose as doctors believed the cancer had been caught very early.
But it was the second time the family had been touched by the disease. Archie’s grandma, Julie Hardwick was just 56 when she died on February 14, 2017, from bowel cancer.
She had lived long enough to see a 4D baby scan of Archie, who was her first grandchild, but died only three months before Archie was born.
Now Archie faced a battle with cancer and both his parents were determined to be there every step of the way.
Andi shaved his off his own hair off in solidarity with Archie who lost his hair due to the side effects of chemotherapy.
And tt was a huge boost when Andi learnt that five fire officer pals from the amber watch at Bo’ness station had also shaved off their hair to support Archie.
Today Archie is recovering well.
If all goes to plan he should start maintenance c h e m o t h e ra py this September to keep the leukaemia in remission and complete treatment in spring 2022 before starting school.
Lisa continued: “It’s thanks to research that children like Archie are doing so well today. That’s why raising money for Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People is so important.
“I hope everyone across Scotland will get behind this vitally important campaign too and turn something they no longer need into funds for such a fantastic cause.”
Lisa Adams, spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK for Children and Young People, said: “We’re grateful to the
Galloway family for their support during these unprecedented times.
“We want to help more children and young people survive cancer with a good quality of life. We hope as many people as possible will help to get our life-saving research back on track by donating any quality clothes or goods at their local TK Maxx.”
For more information visit cruk.org/ childrenandyoungpeople