The Many Adventures of Unstoppable Ace, 7
Cancer-battling boy takes up taekwondo, boxing, wall climbing and paddleboarding
A BRAVE schoolboy has taken up extreme sports – despite having daily chemotherapy as he battles cancer. Ace Ward, seven, has joined taekwondo and boxing clubs. He has also started treetop and wall climbing, gokarting and paddleboarding, while fighting off B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Ace, from Irvine, has a daily antibiotic followed by a different weekly dose of chemotherapy, a monthly dose of yet another chemo, then has to endure lumbar puncture surgery every 12 weeks. Despite the gruelling treatment, the Celtic fan is living life to the fullest and has returned to school full-time after being diagnosed in January 2020. Mum Vicky, 35, says her boy is an inspiration, adding: “He is doing great. “He has chemo every day then once a week and once a month on top of that but it never stops him. He has taken up taekwondo and gone back to boxing to try and strengthen his muscles.
“We have been on a few special family holidays this summer and he has given everything a go.
“He’s been rock climbing, treetop aerial climbing and paddleboarding. He loves it all.
“You’d never know what he’s up against when you watch him do all these things.”
Vicky says because Ace is neutropenic – meaning he has no immune system to fight off bugs and viruses – school has been an added worry for her and husband Brian, 39.
But for Ace, the biggest worry is who to sit next to at lunchtime. Vicky, who is also mum to Hallie, nine, and Harrison, 11, said: “He is so happy he gets to sit with his friends at lunchtime.
“That’s his favourite thing about his school day. He could never do that before because he has no immune system.”
Ace first touched the nation’s hearts by overcoming his fear of losing his hair with the help of his footballing idol, former Celtic skipper Scott Brown.
The Record revealed how Ace was distraught at the prospect of losing his blond spiky hair but when he realised he would be the same as his hero, he was delighted.