A Fife schoolboy has won a medal for courage at a special party for youngsters coping with cancer.
Danyal Mirza, 7, was a guest of honour at the circus-themed Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens star awards party, held in partnership with TK Maxx, in London.
The extravaganza was organised to help raise awareness of the charity’s groundbreaking work into children’s cancer research and the urgent need to boost funds.
Danyal, who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2013, was one of 20 children who came together as special ambassadors to represent around 600 youngsters who have received awards in the last year.
With mum Sobia, dad Amjad and brother Amaan, he met party host Stacey Solomon.
It was the perfect chance for the Dalgety Bay family to enjoy some quality time after a tough few years.
Sobia recalls vividly the summer of 2013 when a holiday in London turned into a nightmare.
The family were on a day trip to a car museum, on one of the hottest days of the summer, when Danyal became really unwell and he was rushed to hospital.
Once there doctors told Sobia blood test results were causing concern.
Danyal was transferred to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
It was a hammer blow when doctors explained he had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, the most common type of leukaemia in children.
Thanks to major advances in treatment, around 80% of children with this disease are now cured, compared to around 10% in the 1960s.
Sobia said: “You know how you see it in TV programmes like Casualty when doctors take you in to a small room to give you bad news?
“That’s exactly what it was like.”
Hundreds of miles from home their lives became that hospital ward.
By September, Danyal was well enough to transfer to Edinburgh’s Sick Children’s Hospital.
Doctors explained he needed three years of chemotherapy and September 11 is due to mark the final day of his treatment.
“It was a horrible time.
“They say things in life happen for a reason. I’ve asked so many times, why did Danyal get cancer? I’ve looked for answers,” said his mum.
“But I’m hugely proud of both my boys.
The star awards are part of the Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens fundraising campaign, which aims to accelerate research to find kinder treatments and cures.
Its spokeswoman for Scotland, Lisa Adams, said: “It is a privilege to be able to recognise the courage of youngsters like Danyal.
“He is a true ‘star’.”
TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of research into beating children’s cancers in the UK, where around 1,700 children are diagnosed with the disease each ye
