A Jesmond family is urgently appealing for donations to get their toddler to America for pioneering cancer treatment.
Rocco Troiano, three, has stage four neuroblastoma and his best chance of beating the illness is to receive a vaccination that could help reduce his risk of relapse.
But the potentially lifesaving treatment is only available in the USA at a cost of £230,000.
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With the help of the Bradley Lowery Foundation, Rocco's family has managed to raise 64% of the cash but still needs £83,000 to get Rocco to New York.
And time is ticking, as Rocco needs to have the vaccination soon after completing his frontline treatment in order for it to be effective.
Rocco’s mum, Nevena Belovodska, said: “Rocco has responded very well to the frontline treatment provided by the NHS, and we are so grateful to the team at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) for looking after him so well.
“We are now desperate to get him over to New York to take part in a bivalent vaccine trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Centre.
"The vaccine needs to be taken within a certain window of time to stand a chance of working, so we need to raise the additional funds now.”
Rocco was initially sent home with laxatives when doctors thought he had constipation before being diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma on February 14 last year.
The courageous tot has been undergoing intensive chemotherapy at the RVI in Newcastle since his cancer diagnosis.
Results have been positive, and he has responded well to treatment, however, the relapse rate for this cancer is high.
Lynn Murphy, chief operating officer of the Bradley Lowery Foundation, said: “When a child is diagnosed with cancer, it’s not only devastating for the family, but financial decisions have to be made to make sure treatment can be accessed.
“So far, we’ve raised nearly £150,000 through the generosity of people touched by Rocco’s story and we hope more people will consider holding events and activities to get this brave little boy to America.”
The Bradley Lowery Foundation was established in memory of Bradley Lowery, who passed away following a fight with neuroblastoma in 2017.
Since then, the charity has raised more than £3 million for dozens of poorly children across the UK; established a dedicated support line for the families of children with cancer; donated over £200,000 to researching childhood cancers and campaigned for new drugs to be introduced in the UK.
To donate to Rocco’s fight, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Roccosfight
