Teen raises hundreds for hospital that helped mums’s cancer treatment
A teenager from Stanford-le-Hope is walking tall after completing a 100-mile walk, raising over £600 to say thanks to Southend Hospital for the care they gave his mum during her cancer treatment.
Oscar White, 13, together with 22 scouts from the 2nd Stanford-le-Hope Scout Group, put their best feet forward for the 102-mile Cotswold Way Challenge, and didn’t let the typical British weather stop them in their 12-day epic fundraising quest.
Oscar made the decision to fundraise for the Oncology team following his mum’s treatment for Thyroid cancer in 2022. Following surgery at Basildon Hospital to remove her Thyroid, Mum, Kate, was then transferred to Southend Hospital where she received radioactive therapy
As a result, patients need to recover alone, meaning complete isolation for three weeks. It was this part of her journey which his mum and Oscar found extremely challenging.
Oscar said “Not seeing mum after her treatment was tough on us all, but the team that looked after my mum were so good. She’s better and I feel good about that; fundraising and taking on this challenge was something I wanted to do to give something back.”
Kate said: “Oscar did amazingly well, I am so proud of him. He really battled through, facing gale-force winds, rain, hail, and no communication with us for two weeks.
“At the finish-line in Bath, Oscar was euphoric, he did so well with not even a single blister!”
Faye Bailey, Charity Communications Officer, accepting the cheque on behalf of the Oncology team, said: "Oscar completed an amazing challenge and I know the unit are so very grateful for all their fundraising efforts. This donation will help make a real difference to the lives of patients."