(Image: Provided)
The family members of a 15-year-old are racing against time to raise £75,000 for potentially life-saving cancer treatment.
Jude Hazard, from Silksworth, Sunderland, has an extremely rare and aggressive form of vascular cancer and urgently needs treatment not currently available in the UK.
Jude’s cancer is so rare it is believed to affect only one or two people in every 100 million, with most cases occurring in adults.
Lyndsey Hazard, Jude’s aunt, said: "We really need to raise as much money as possible to get him the treatment.
"And, so far, Japan and Boston in the US are the most promising centres for that.”
Jude with mum Katie, sister Mason and dad Danny in happier times.
(Image: Provided)
The family believe they need £75,000 for his treatment. So far, over £55,000 has been raised on a Go Fund Me page.
Red Sky Foundation is also raising funds to help Jude and the Hazard family explore potential treatment options and support the enormous costs that may come with them.
Jude’s aunt, Lyndsey, is an activities coordinator at Belle Vue House - a Sunderland care home which has also stepped in to help.
The home is hosting a summer carnival this Saturday (August 22) to help raise more necessary funds.
The carnival will run from 2pm to 5pm and will feature live music, games, a tombola, a raffle, and refreshments from the home’s outdoor ice cream parlour and coffee shop.
Funds raised will go towards Jude’s medical treatment, hospital stay, travel costs, and post-operative recovery.
Any remaining funds will be used for his ongoing cardiac and cancer care.
Jude has already received treatment at Sunderland Royal Hospital, Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital, and is now under the care of the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
His mother, Katie, described him as a determined and caring young man.
She said: "The surgeons and doctors have all said what a strong, courageous boy Jude is.
"Jude is well-liked and a very sociable kid."
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She added: "He loves nothing more than being out with friends, eating out and loves good food.
"He attends the gym daily, and is such a bright boy, loving, generous, caring and a thoughtful young man.
"We are just so grateful to everyone who has supported us through a Just Giving page and really hope as many people as possible will come along on Saturday."