TRYING to explain cancer to a child is difficult at the best of times, but Shelley Eldridge finds it even harder to explain to her son Lucas why he is so ill.

The six-year-old is not only suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia, he struggles on a daily basis with Down’s Syndrome.

Young Lucas, who lives in Cowley with Miss Eldridge and his dad Paul Randall, 48, is undergoing chemotherapy.

But Lucas has a champion – his uncle Steve Willis, 31, is going to run 1,000 miles over the next year to raise money for Down’s Syndrome Oxford (DSO) on Lucas’s behalf.

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The proud uncle said: “When I heard about Lucas having leukemia I thought ‘How can I help?’.

“At that time I had just signed up for my first full marathon anyway, and it seemed like a good idea to take that further.

“Lucas is my motivation: he is such a lovely person despite all of the problems life has thrown at him.

“He always lights up the room laughing, talking about football and just generally being awesome.”

St John Fisher Primary School pupil Lucas was diagnosed with leukaemia in August after having pains in his leg.

Mum Miss Eldridge, 40, said: “I took him to hospital because he couldn’t walk, but I didn’t expect cancer. I just thought something had happened to his leg.

“It was a real shock. It’s difficult for any child but he doesn’t understand as much as another six-year-old would understand.

“Sometimes it’s a blessing because he doesn’t keep asking questions and things like that, but then at the same time I try to explain to him and I can’t.

“I just say he’s got poorly blood. It’s just a way of life for him at the moment.”

The charity Down’s Syndrome Oxford (DSO) helps Oxford children with Down’s Syndrome meet and play together in early development and speech development groups.

Miss Eldridge said: “DSO has been an amazing support for us.

Mr Willis, a plasterer, took the first steps of his challenge at the Oxford Half Marathon and will take part in various races and runs over the next 12 months to raise £5,000.

He is planning on finishing where he began at next year’s Oxford Half Marathon and has already raised £1,000.

For more information or to donate, visit justgiving.com/ steven-willis1 or facebook.com/ raceforlucas

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