Little boy who raised thousands for charity given cancer all clear

27 November 2023 , 17:33

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Young Hughie receives a Pride of Britain award (Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)

A youngster who raised thousands for charity during cancer treatment is celebrating “incredible news” after being told he is clear of leukaemia.

Hughie Higginson was just 10 when he was diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2020. He started fundraising for Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, with help from friend Freddie Xavi, who joined in when Hughie was too ill.

The two boys have won a number of awards, including the Young Fundraisers of the Year at the Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards in 2021.

Hughie Higginson and Freddie Xavi (Daily Mirror/Andy Stenning)

Now 13, Hughie thanked everyone who helped him, including “absolute hero” Freddie. He said: “A few weeks ago, I had some bone marrow tests at the hospital and... they can see absolutely no leukaemia cells. Everything has come back fully clear. All the leukaemia’s gone. It’s incredible.”

Freddie said he was ecstatic when Hughie, from Burnley, Lancashire, called him with his news. He said: “He’s not complained – he has just got on with it. If I had the same thing, I’d be complaining about it. He’s done really well.”

Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him

The pair have raised more than £200,000 for the hospital. Freddie ran two kilometres a day in the 50 days up to Christmas in 2020, and the pair are running 1km round every Premier League and Football League club for hospitals across the country.

Hughie’s father, Keiron, said: “Getting that news makes you feel very blessed.”

Stephen White