Two teachers are set to shave their hair in front of pupils and parents to raise vital funds for Just George.
Catherine Mulholland and Tracey Rice from The Shade Primary School in Soham will brave the shave on March 27.
Former headteacher Lisa Radcliffe and husband David set up the special named fund at Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) in memory of Isleham boy George to raise money for research into rhabdomyosarcoma.
The fund has raised more than £70,000 since its launch last September.
George, who died aged four in October 2023, was just three-years-old when, in May 2022, he was diagnosed with the rare cancer.
Writing on the fundraising page, Lisa said: “As parents, who have had their hopes and dreams for their incredible little boy shattered, we aim to turn the negative energy from that into a positive drive to raise funds, specifically for research into rhabdomyosarcoma.”
George underwent several aggressive forms of treatment including nine rounds of chemotherapy and six weeks of daily Proton Beam radiotherapy in London.
In July 2023 doctors discovered a tumour on his lymph node had grown by 25 per cent despite treatment, and he was referred to the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospice for ongoing care.
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On top of the common side effects from his treatment, George required a tracheostomy six months and in the late summer of 2023 he lost sight in his right eye.
Lisa adds that despite the pain George showed great strength, smiling his way through treatment, and bouncing back from the challenges he faced every day.
She said: "He built relationships with medical and care staff, remembering their names and offering smiles and good conversation. It is fair to say he was very loved.”
“We want families in the future to be offered kinder treatments for their children’s cancer and for more successful treatments to be found for rhabdomyosarcoma.
“If this fund can go any way to helping other families battling this horrendous disease, then George’s incredible fight would have been for something.”
For more details on how to donate to the Just George Fund, visit the CCLG website.
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