Brave boy who beat cancer twice launches appeal to support other children staying at Peterborough City Hospital

Josh Stockhill, nine, has created a fundraiser for new sets of pyjamas to be given to children staying at Peterborough City Hospital.

After spending a big part of his life in hospital, Josh now wants to help other youngsters facing overnight stays for treatment.

At just eight months-old, Josh’s parents Kirsty and Craig were given the devastating news he had leukaemia. While receiving treatment, Josh contracted Sepsis, and his family was told he might not survive the night.

Thankfully he made it through this, but just three months before his treatment was due to finish, the blood cancer returned and the little lad now faced a bone marrow transplant. This worked, and Josh is now cancer-free.

Mum Kirsty said: "Josh has spent numerous nights in hospital during his life, and recently told us he wanted to give something to the other children who are having to stay there. He came up with the idea of new pyjamas himself. Unfortunately, when you're poorly in hospital for several nights, you pretty much live in pyjamas and end up going through quite a few pairs.

"He wants us to collect new pyjamas for children up to the age of 16, which will then be donated to the children's ward at Peterborough City Hospital.”

Josh, who turns 10 on Christmas Eve, said: “I spent lots of time in hospital when I was younger as I had leukaemia. I would like to give one of those hospitals, Peterborough City Hospital, new PJs for the children who are in hospital now.

“With the money raised, me and my mum will go and buy them and take them there.”

Since this life-saving bone marrow transfusion, Josh has not experienced any further relapses– but still requires ongoing treatment to manage other secondary conditions due to the effects of the chemotherapy and radiotherapy on his young body.

“He is doing okay, but he's had to have a double cataract eye operation and is now on growth hormone injections,” explains Kirsty. “He is also having physiotherapy and has to wear leg splints every night to stretch out the muscles, which are very tight due to the treatments he’s had.

“But Josh does everything with a smile on his face, nothing phases him. He just gets on with everything he needs to do, and is such a confident little boy. We are so proud of him wanting to help others this way.”

Relatives ands friends of the family, which includes dad Craig and four brothers, have already donated several sets of new pyjamas to kick start the campaign.

To support Josh’s PJ appeal with a donation, visit his JustGiving page.