Inspirational Weymouth couple hit with every parent's worst nightmare
Weymouth schoolboy raises thousands to help toddler cousin beat leukaemia
A three-year-old boy from Weymouth will undergo an intensive course of chemotherapy as he battles leukaemia.
Denzel Daley was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia last year after his family had him genetically tested following an autism diagnosis.
Parents Mia and Olly Daley received the devastating news earlier this year that their son hadn’t responded to the initial phase of leukaemia treatment ‘the way doctors had hoped’.
His cousin, Tommy Rodway will now shave off his hair in hopes of raising £6,000 to buy sensory equipment for Denzel’s bedroom.
The ten-year-old has been growing his hair since he was five but has ultimately decided to shave it off to raise vital funds for his cousin.
He told us: “I’m donating my hair to the Little Princess Trust so someone in the near future can have my hair as a wig.
“It’s funny to think about because imagine walking into Asda and seeing someone with my hair,” he said. “Maybe someone can have it as a crazy mohawk or dye it green.”
Tommy’s mum, Emma Reed added: “I’m really proud of what he’s doing, although I think I might have a few tears seeing the hair go because it’s been part of Tommy’s identity for nearly six years now.
“So many people have been sending well wishes and just having that community support around us has been phenomenal.”
Tommy is a student at Beechcroft St Paul's Primary School and will be getting his hair cut in assembly on March 22.
There will also be a fundraiser which is planned to happen around the Easter holidays with the help of Frazer Mitchell of Antix Music Network at the White Hart, where there will be a raffle and family disco.
Emma noted: “All the money we raise is going towards sensory equipment for Denzel just to support him through his chemotherapy for the foreseeable future.”
She went on to call her sister Mia and her partner Olly “inspirations” for continuing to care for Denzel while still supporting their four other children.
Emma said: “This is one of the hardest things we can imagine, Mia and Olly are absolutely inspirational parents and as a family, they are doing the best they can.”