A LITTLE boy living with cancer has created a special video – released on his sixth birthday – encouraging more people to give blood and raise awareness for the charity that supported him.
Henry Turner, from Southend, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in April 2020, shortly after his third birthday.
He has received 19 blood transfusions during treatment.
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The heart-warming video, released on Sunday, features Henry’s hand-drawn pictures and labels and explains the role of red and white blood cells, neutrophils and platelets.
His voiceover explains that a blood transfusion is “where you get new blood”.
Henry’s mum, Natalie Turner, explained his situation.
She said: “Alongside chemotherapy, Henry has blood tests every week to check his blood cell count as this shapes the treatment course he needs.
“As he’s grown older Henry’s taken a real interest in what’s going on inside his body and finding out his red blood cell number each week.
“When his school set a creative homework assignment about labelling parts of the body, he immediately wanted to learn more about blood and talk about his transfusions.”
Alongside aiming to boost blood donations, Henry also hopes his video will raise awareness of Gold Geese, the small Essex children’s cancer charity which has supported the Turner family since his diagnosis.
His little sister Ada, 3, makes a guest appearance too.
Gold Geese provides practical and emotional support to local families of children and young people fighting cancer.
Support is tailored to each family’s needs and ranges from funding for mental health therapy and food shop vouchers to toys, weekend trips away and practical help with travel to and from hospital.
Katie Southgate, founder of Gold Geese, added: “We absolutely love Henry’s explainer video and hope it encourages more people to give blood so we can help ensure hospitals have the supplies they need.
“We think Henry is an absolute star and hope his birthday wish to boost donations comes true.”
To watch the video visit bit.ly/3xWeZBG, blood donors can register or make an appointment visit blood.co.uk and for more information on Gold Geese visit goldgeese.org.
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