A YOUNG cancer patient and his family are backing a national campaign aimed at raising awareness of childhood cancer.

Ethan Wilson, 10, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia aged just eight.

He is still undergoing chemotherapy treatment, but also loves playing out on his bike with his friends and is looking forward to starting high school next year.

Ethan, who lives in Colne Road, was first diagnosed in October 2012 when his parents noticed swollen glands.

Tests revealed Ethan had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which, for young boys, requires three years three months of treatment.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, held in September, is a campaign by charity CLIC Sargent, which works to support young cancer patients and their families.

Ethan’s mum Lisa said: “Our lives changed completely when Ethan was diagnosed. The drive to the hospital was an hour each way and our expenses rocketed. It meant a lot of upheaval for Ethan’s brother and sister, because their whole routine was thrown over.

“Thankfully Ethan is now in the maintenance stage of his treatment and back at school, which he loves, but at the beginning, things were tough. We’re supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month because we want to stand by other families whose lives have been turned upside down.”

Lisa, 31, said CLIC Sargent provided them with a social worker who will next year meet with Ethan’s new high school and discuss his treatment and how the school can support him.

She said: “It’s brilliant, because it is a bit of a worry. Ethan’s at Earby Springfield Primary School at the minute and they have been very supportive. I can only hope he’ll get the same care when he’s at high school and it’s good to know that CLIC Sargent can help with that.”

CLIC Sargent Director of Fundraising, Lucy Caldicott, said: “We’re so pleased Ethan’s family are supporting Childhood Cancer Aware-ness Month."

This year, CLIC Sargent is asking people to wear a gold ribbon to show their support for families coping with the devastating impact of cancer.

Gold ribbons are available to buy from CLIC Sargent’s online shop or branches of the supermarket Lidl.

JD Wetherspoon pubs or fashion retailer Wallis.