Portsmouth schoolboy who battled a brain tumour asks for help in funding research into children's cancer

Oscar Kerley is helping TK Maxx with its kids and teens campaign Give Up Clothes For Good

Portsmouth youngster Oscar Kerley was five when he was diagnosed with a tumour in 2015, and was put into a coma in hospital because he was so ill.

Now he’s back on his feet and is supporting retail giant TK Maxx’s ‘Give Up Clothes for Good’ campaign, in support of Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Kids and Teens.

Oscar, from Copnor, is rallying people to join him and donate good-quality clothing, accessories and homeware to their nearest TK Maxx store.

His mum Jenna, 28, said: ‘Oscar became really poorly just after his fifth birthday.

‘I was back and forth to the doctor and things gradually got worse as he started being sick.

‘I took him to A&E at Queen Alexandra Hospital one Saturday night, and we found out there and then that he had cancer.

‘It’s earth-shattering to be told that news about your child.’

Oscar was put into an induced coma and transferred to Southampton General Hospital where he had surgery.

Soon after he started treatment, which included six weeks of intensive radiotherapy, four rounds of chemotherapy, and a stem cell transplant.

The youngster is now seven and in remission, but has check-up scans every six months.

Jenna added: ‘Oscar was so good at coping, so upbeat all the time – it was quite amazing how resilient he was.

‘Oscar and I will be having a good clear out at home and I hope everyone in Portsmouth gets behind the campaign by raiding their wardrobes.’

Each bag donated could raise up to £30 when sold in CRUK shops. The money collected will help fund research to find new, better and kinder treatments for young people with cancer.

Jenny Makin, CRUK Kids and Teens’ spokesperson for Portsmouth, said: ‘It’s fantastic to see Oscar as the face of Give up Clothes for Good – he’s been through so much.

‘We hope everyone will support the campaign and donate pre-loved clothes and goods to their local TK Maxx stores.

‘Every item donated will help to bring us one step closer to beating the disease.’

Visit cruk.org/kidsandteens.