Sam inspired by his battling mum

A CARING schoolboy was inspired to raise £150 for a lymphoma support group by watching his mother’s battle with the disease. Bluecoat School pupil Sam Kingham (11), with help from pal Seb Stott, raised the money through a sweet stall.

A CARING schoolboy was inspired to raise £150 for a lymphoma support group by watching his mother’s battle with the disease.

Bluecoat School pupil Sam Kingham (11), with help from pal Seb Stott, raised the money through a sweet stall.

After first being diagnosed in 2008, Sam’s mum Gill Kleb was treated at the Royal Oldham Hospital, but her remission was short lived.

Only six weeks later Gill was taken back to hospital where doctors decided she needed a stem cell transplant, which was performed at the Christie, Manchester, in March, 2009.

After leaving hospital, Gill got in touch with Joyce Young and the pair founded the North Manchester and Bury Lymphoma Support Group.

The charity offers support to people and families living with the disease and was the first of its kind in the area.

Now, after six years in remission, Gill is awaiting more stem cell surgery in September.

She said: “Sam was only five when I was first diagnosed, so he doesn’t remember as much about it.

“He shocked us one night when he said he wanted to do something and asked who he could raise it for. I couldn’t think of anyone better than the support group.”

Sam said: “I decided on doing it because I thought it would help people.

“I wanted to help anyone, but especially my mum. We only sold sweets for half an hour at lunchtime out of the window but we raised £150 so I was really happy.”

Gill has since stepped down from the support group and it is now run by Joyce, who also praised Sam’s fundraising efforts.

She said: “We’re a self-funding group who offer support to people and their families.

“The closest group used to be at the Christie, which we thought was too far for people in Oldham.

“We rely on people raising money to donate and help us provide speakers and information to people. Sam has been an inspiration going out and raising this money. We’re so proud of him.”

The group holds meetings every six weeks — it is meeting today —between 1.30 and 3pm at the Middleton Masonic Centre.

Visit www.thepenninelymphomasupportgroup.co.uk for more information.