Inskip family who lost 5 year old son to brain tumour thank community for support through 'darkest days'

A family from Inskip who lost their 5-year-old son to a brain tumour last month are thanking their community for getting them through their 'darkest days'.

Charlie Robinson battled multiple tumours in his life, after being diagnosed with a grade 3 ependymoma at just two years old.

After suffering from a relapse, Charlie sadly passed away on April 7th.

Charlie has been described as having an infectious personality, and a huge amount of courage and bravery in the face of his diagnosis and treatment.

Charlie's story and smile touched his local community, who lined the village streets on April 16th, the day of his funeral - many dressed in blue, Charlie’s favourite colour.

Tonight, a convoy of around three hundreds tractors will set off at 7pm from Stanley Lodge on Salwick Road and finish at his home village in his memory.

Passing through Catforth, Treales, Wharles, Roseacre, Elswick, and Great Eccleston, Charlie’s Convoy will finish in Inskip, Charlie’s home village, at the Derby Arms junction.

In tribute to Charlie, the vehicles will be decorated with big blue bows, and blue heart-shaped bumper stickers.

All donations from the convoy will go to the NHS and The Brain Tumour Charity.

Charlie's mum Nici said the local community support has been overwhelming: "The support they've given our family, is what actually just got us through the most horrendous time of our lives.

"From actually finding out about the relapse this time which was only the 22nd of February that we got the result it was six weeks and two days until he actually died and so it was actually very very fast.

Nici described her son as their 'little fighter' who battled on until the very end: "The nurses said basically that he wasn't likely to survive the night and we saw him going and then somehow he came through it and he gave us another three days.

"Before we found out about Charlie's relapse they'd already planned to do a convoy for Charlie but obviously Charlie won't be here to watch it but Charlie will definitely be with us."

Charlie's dad John added: "We had three days which luckily we were able to invite our family to come and kind of say their goodbyes and then he decided it was his time."

John said they want to carry on their son's legacy so no one else has to go through what they did: "We're in a situation that's put us in a situation that we don't want to be in, but it's given us a platform to help others who're maybe coming into this situation.

"If we can be there to help people then I guess that will help us heal and I think that's all we want to do is heal and carry on with life knowing Charlie is with us...he shows us signs daily and that's what we've got to cling to.

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