13 year old Thom pictured with his mum Suzi outside Action Cancer House off the Malone Road in South Belfast.

Thom Donnelly from Bangor is a remarkable 13 year old. Inspired by his mum’s breast cancer journey he decided to embark on a journey of his own, a 13 mile walk which has raised £3,660 for Action Cancer, the charity which has provided support to his family during this difficult time.

Thom is an only child and lives with his mum Suzi and dad Phil in Bangor and is a pupil of Campbell College in East Belfast. In the last few years, Thom has watched his mum, a lecturer at South Eastern Regional College, be diagnosed at 44 years old, have surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Suzi is now doing well but understandably her diagnosis has had a huge impact on Thom.

“I decided to do a fundraiser because I felt that mum was going through all of this and I wanted to show her support and this was my way of helping,” said Thom. “The walk began at my school and ended at Bangor Clock Tower via the coastal path. I had loads of support with family and friends joining me at different stages along the route, I had the most fun when dad joined me.”

“I wanted the money to go to Action Cancer because they are local, they have helped mum and they have helped me. I did my research and know that the charity do breast screening, so it was a good fit. ”

A cancer diagnosis can have a huge impact on the whole family. Children and young people are often impacted emotionally and physically as a result of the worry and stress which comes with a cancer diagnosis within the family. Action Cancer’s complementary therapy services available to children aged 5 up can really help by teaching them how to relax, and provide therapies which can help with sleep and dealing with emotions. Therapies include reflexology, gentle massage, aromatherapy, Bach Flower Remedies, relaxation techniques & Bowen and Emmett techniques.

The charity’s counselling service for children and young people provides a safe confidential space to express their worries and fears and learn techniques to help them cope. Action Cancer can help at all stages of the cancer journey.

The support services for children and young people are available in: Belfast (Action Cancer House); Lurgan; Coleraine; Portrush; Derry; Strabane, Limavady and the Maureen Sheehan Centre in West Belfast.

These services are delivered free of charge to families in partnership with local community and statutory organisations throughout Northern Ireland. Recent expansion of these services has only been made possible thanks to funding from BBC Children in Need and in addition Marks & Spencer, who have raised a phenomenal £110,560 through in store fundraising across Northern Ireland.

Videos explaining the services further are available at www.actioncancer.org

To book an appointment for your child call Action Cancer on 028 9080 3344.