BRAVE Charlie Williams, who has already battled a brain tumour despite being aged only 10, will fulfil a dream today as he walks out at Wembley with the England team.
Russell Claydon
BRAVE Charlie Williams, who has already battled a brain tumour despite being aged only 10, will fulfil a dream today as he walks out at Wembley with the England team.
The youngster from Boxford, near Sudbury, will be a mascot at the friendly with Slovenia as part of a prize from a cancer charity to recognise his bravery.
His brain tumour was diagnosed in 2005, requiring surgery and bouts of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Now Charlie has been recognised as a “Little Star” by Cancer Research UK, which has arranged today's special occasion for him.
His mum Beverley Williams said after missing almost two years of school since he was diagnosed and having to give up playing football for Boxford Rovers it will be “a dream” for him.
“He is bursting at the seams,” she said. “He is really excited and he wants to meet Frank Lampard. He has loads of Chelsea stuff and Frank Lampard on his shirt.”
Charlie still has to go to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge for regular scans and have daily hormone injections as a result of his treatment but he is now close to five years since diagnosis and is classed as being in remission.
Mrs Williams, who owns a bulk haulage lorry with her husband, now makes and sells jewellery to raise money for the support networks Addenbrooke's provides for families.
She said: “He has been so brave. When they found the tumour within five days he was having brain surgery and then he got very poorly with infections including meningitis.
“There were some really difficult times but Addenbrooke's has been amazing. They become part of your family and they were so supportive.”
Charlie, who attends Stoke-by-Nayland Middle School, will be one of 22 children decked out in the England and Slovenia strips who will be accompanying the players onto the pitch before kick-off.
Cancer Research UK's annual Little Star Awards will be launched again in November 2009. For more details about the Little Star Awards, visit: www.cancerresearchuk.org/littlestar.
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