Extraordinary Mason Fountain, who has helped raise more than £50,000 for youngsters with brain tumours, has returned to school after a gruelling 52 weeks of chemotherapy on his own tumour.
The 10-year-old youngster, from Chantry Green, Ipswich, returned to Gusford Primary School after the October half-term, where he has been studying four full days a week.
Proud mum Shelley Fountain has been delighted with his progress so far. She said: “He’s doing really well at the moment. He had been doing two mornings a week in school and now he is doing four days, so it has increased gradually.
“He has missed so much school over the years because of all the treatment, and it does really tire him out.
“He is using a laptop as his hands are damaged from the chemotherapy, so he has a lot of catching up on reading and writing, but he is enjoying it, and it is nice for him to mingle with children again.”
Mason, who has a brother and two sisters, was diagnosed with the inoperable brain tumour in April 2010 and has undergone several operations and rounds of gruelling treatment.
Mason had to endure chemotherapy for most of last year in an attempt to shrink the tumour, which so far remains stable, and the brave youngster will undergo an MRI scan in February to determine his progress.
However, the family have also been on a fundraising drive to help fund possible proton therapy in the USA, which would target the tumour and cause less damage to surrounding tissue.
They have already raised £16,000 towards their £20,000 target, thanks to a £10,000 donation from a man who walked the 90-mile journey from Hertfordshire to Ipswich, £1,000 from Fred Olsen Travel and other fundraising projects organised by the family.
Mrs Fountain added: “It feels like one less stress for us as a family because the generosity has been incredible. We are really grateful for all the help from people who want to fundraise for us. It’s just not knowing that is the hardest thing because Mason has relapsed before when we thought his tumour was shrinking, but it is so nice for him to be back at school and back to being normal.”
Visit masonsmagic.co.uk for more information on Mason and to donate.
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