THE son of a Frome woman who is celebrating life nearly 30 years after being diagnosed with bone cancer, has raised £127.50 for charity with his friends at their school summer fete.
Ten-year-old Luis Vance and his friends from St Louis Catholic Primary School will donate the money to the Bone Cancer Research Trust. Luis’s mother, Filipa Vance, and family and friends, have formed ‘Team Bones’ and are raising money for the charity to mark Filipa’s 30-year anniversary of being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, at the age of 15.
Luis’ fundraising success at his school fete comes weeks after he joined his mother in the Henley Swim – an upstream River Thames swimming event, held over the Henley Royal Regatta course – raising over £1,400.
‘Team Bones’ have so far raised £1,937.45, and with more events planned for later in the year, the group is hoping to raise thousands more.
As well as raising money for charity, Filipa also wants to raise awareness about what life is like after cancer – whilst Filipa is now cancer-free, she still lives with the emotional and physical effects of cancer.
After Filipa’s story was shared in the Frome Times last month, her message about the realities of life after cancer and how these obstacles can be overcome has reached across the Atlantic, with an American publisher picking up her story and sharing it on their website. Filipa said, “Our awareness campaign has travelled overseas!”
To keep up to date with ‘Team Bones’ and their fundraising efforts, visit their blog: https://team bones30yearson.word press.com or follow them on Twitter and Instagram: @teambones30.
