A Dundee schoolboy bravely fighting cancer won a medal for courage at the weekend.
Six-year-old Neevan Asad was treated to an out of this world experience at the Stars and Space-themed Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens star awards party, held at the Roof Gardens in Kensington.
The celebration with a host of famous faces was organised to help raise awareness of the charity’s groundbreaking work in childhood cancer research.
Neevan was among 20 children who were chosen as special ambassadors.
He attended the party with mum Jolanta Karas, 33, and dad Mohammad Asaduzzaman, 39.
Neevan had just started St Joseph’s Primary when he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia.
The first hint that there was a problem came before Christmas when Neevan and Jolanta flew to Poland to visit relatives.
Less than 24 hours after arriving Neevan started being sick and his nose began bleeding uncontrollably.
They rushed to the nearest hospital where Neevan was given an urgent blood transfusion.
Alarm bells began ringing after bruises appeared and his nose bled profusely.
Transferred to a larger hospital, doctors broke the devastating news.
Jolanta said: “It was frightening and in a second our whole lives changed.
“Neevan’s dad was back home working in Dundee and we were miles away in Poland.
“I just wanted to see Neevan happy, smiling and back to his healthy self.
“But first we had to get home to Scotland it was a risk as Neevan’s blood counts were so low.
“It was such a relief when we finally arrived home safely.”
Neevan was admitted to Ninewells then Edinburgh Sick Children’s hospital to start chemotherapy.
But the family were unprepared for a devastating side effect from the first round of treatment.
It triggered pressure in Neevan’s brain which weakened his eye muscles, causing a squint and permanently damaging his eyesight.
But he is doing well, being boosted by messages from his pals and keeping a folder charting his journey.
Jolanta said: “We are getting the best treatment in the world and the medical team are amazing.
“The one thing you learn from being in hospital in a ward where children have cancer is that you never know what tomorrow will bring.
“There’s always one part of me that’s scared and it’s heartbreaking at times.”
The family is so proud of the youngster who speaks English, Polish and Bangladeshi.
“We’re doing everything in our power to get Neevan better again and back enjoying life at school with his friends where he belongs.”
The star awards are part of Cancer Research UK’s Kids and Teens fundraising campaign, which aims to accelerate research to find kinder treatments and cures for children, teens and young adults with cancer.