Give to GOSH: ‘Rowan now has a new enthusiasm for life’

Jamie Merrill catches up with a seven-year-old leukaemia patient as he signs up for the RBC Race for the Kids

Rowan Pethard with his brother, Corey,10, parents Steve and Abby, grandmother, Sandra Brooke, and Rowan’s dog, Woody (Mike Casey)

Last time we heard from Rowan Pethard he was “poorly and not himself”. The seven-year-old Spurs fan was suffering from an infection and the next stage of his treatment for leukaemia was delayed.

The Independent’s Give to GOSH appeal has been following Rowan since November. Last month we heard the “maintenance chemotherapy” for his acute lymphoblastic leukaemia had been delayed after he suffered a stubborn virus and needed a high dose of antibiotics. But in recent weeks his mother, Abby, 39, has seen him make “fantastic” progress. His appetite has returned and his hair has started to grow back. Just before Christmas, he was well enough to attend a Spurs training session with his brother Corey, 10.

The invitation came after the club found out about Rowan’s plight and the amount of time he spent at GOSH. It had earlier invited him to tour White Hart Lane and arranged for midfielder Harry Winks, who lives near Rowan in Hemel Hempstead, to visit him. Abby said: “The boys absolutely loved it and the team couldn’t have been nicer. We got to meet all the players and Mauricio Pochettino, the club’s manager, said hello and wished Rowan well.”

Rowan has also been well enough to return to school on a part-time basis while he continues to recover and has enjoyed being around his friends, who have been “really protective” of him.

He’s also been able to swim for the first time since he fell ill. Abby said: “The biggest difference is his appetite; it’s great to see it come back. He has a new enthusiasm for life and he has been going to friends’ parties and attending sleepovers, which is lovely to see.”

One of the next big steps for the family will be competing at the RBC Race for the Kids in May, which this year is being held at the Queen Elizabeth Park, home of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Stratford. Last year, the Pethard family, led by Rowan’s grandmother, Sandra Brooke, led a 63-strong team, including Rowan’s dog Woody, and raised £30,000 for GOSH.

Last year Rowan took part in the race in his wheelchair after chemotherapy treatment had left him feeling tired, but this year he plans to get around on his scooter with his brother.

Abby said: “The boys have never visited the park and they love sport so I think it’s going to be particularly exciting for them. It’s such an iconic venue and we’re all very excited.”

To Give to GOSH go to: http://ind.pn/1Mydxqt

To find out more about our appeal and why we're supporting GOSH go to: http://ind.pn/1MycZkr

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