Family of Portsmouth toddler with leukaemia are overwhelmed with support

George O’Shaughnessy, three, is waiting for a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with cancer for a second time.

His parents Amy and Craig, from Baffins, have thanked the people of Portsmouth for their messages of encouragement and support on a Facebook page for the toddler.

Mum Amy, 31, said: ‘Portsmouth has always been a great city for community spirit.

‘We’ve been overwhelmed with how many people have contacted us through George’s Facebook page and said they have registered to be a donor.’

As previously reported in The News, George is at Southampton General Hospital and has begun high-dose chemotherapy and total body radiotherapy.

It is hoped he will have a bone marrow transplant at Bristol Children’s Hospital in the new year when a donor match is found.

His younger sister Isabella, two, is not a match for George for giving bone marrow so his family are searching for a new donor through the stem cell and bone marrow donor registers.

To help boost donor register numbers, Tesco in Fratton is looking to set up a stand for charity Delete Blood Cancer.

They accept bone marrow from 17 to 55-year-olds.

Community champion at the store Gemma Morrison has been organising it.

Amy added: ‘Tesco in Fratton has offered to hopefully have a Delete Blood Cancer stand to get people to sign up as one of the ladies in cafe remembers George.’

As well as Tesco, charity Hannah’s Holiday Home Appeal has offered George and his family a short break.

Set up in memory of Hannah Westbrook who died from cancer when she was 10, the charity offers sick children and their family a break in either the New Forest, on Hayling Island or at Shorefield Country Park.

Amy added they would hopefully take George on the break after his transplant.

Pam Marshall, from the charity, said: ‘We like to help as many children as we can.

‘We saw George’s story in The News and wanted to offer him and his family a break.’

The family are posting regular updates on George’s condition on Facebook. Search for Gorgeous George and leukaemia.

If you are aged between 16 and 30, log on to anthonynolan.org to join the donor register or call 0303 303 0303.

If you are between the ages of 17 and 55, you can donate through Delete Blood Cancer. Visit dkms.org.uk/en or call 020 8747 5620.

The family said blood donors are also important. To give blood visit blood.co.uk.