An engineer who lost his teenage son to cancer has thanked supporters for a tremendous start to a year of fundraising for the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life – and chances of survival – for young people.
Kevin Cook, of Viking Close, Gislingham, near Eye, was heartbroken when his son Jack died of leukaemia two years ago.
Jack, a former pupil of Stradbroke Senior School, was diagnosed when he was just 13 years old.
They had just started a family holiday in America when it became clear the teenager was not feeling well.
Kevin said: “He was not at his best, he could not walk further than 10 steps and he did not want to do anything on holiday. So on the fourth day we went to an emergency clinic where a blood test was taken and, within two hours of arriving at the clinic, he was diagnosed with leukaemia.”
He had fainted at school but, said Kevin, there had been no obvious signs Jack was about to be diagnosed with leukaemia.
Jack passed away on February 7, 2015, at the age of 18.
Now his father hopes his memory will live on through fundraising in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust, supported by his employers Malthouse Security, based near Diss.
Jack carried out his own fundraising event when he was receiving treatment at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
He spent three years fighting the cancer, he then went into remission only for the cancer to return.
In October 2014, Jack raised money for Bloodwise (formerly Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research) by taking part in the Ipswich Big Fun Run.
Jack, in a wheelchair, and his best friend, Lewis Whatling, had set themselves a target of £300 for the 5k run. They raised £1,120.
Jack loved all sports and was an Ipswich Town season ticket. After education in Stradbroke he started a course in horticulture at Otley Agricultural College, near Ipswich, with the aim of becoming a groundsman.
Jack’s family is raising money for Teenage Cancer Trust and Malthouse Security has named the trust as its charity of the year.
Five years ago the charity opened an eight-bed unit and dedicated day-care facilities on ward C9 at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.
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