A FIVE-YEAR-OLD Oldham boy who had to learn how to walk again during cancer treatment is supporting a campaign to help fund research into children’s cancers.

Corey Ashton-Barker, from Limeside, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a cancer of the white blood cells – in May, 2016.

His family received the devastating news when Corey’s mum Lynne-Marie took him to A&E at the Royal Oldham Hospital when a high temperature and persistent cough failed to go away.

Corey was initially diagnosed with pneumonia but then routine blood tests showed he also had leukaemia as well.

He was given an immediate blood and platelets transfusion and had to spend the next 13 weeks in hospital, fighting the pneumonia and receiving intensive chemotherapy.

The Holy Family RC Primary School pupil also endured lumbar procedures, including some where chemotherapy drugs were injected directly into his spine, carried out under general anaesthetic.

Sadly, Corey’s treatment caused a number of side effects and as well as losing his hair, he also became so weak from being bed-ridden that he needed physiotherapy to learn to walk again.

But Manchester City fan Corey, who has a big brother Tyler, responded well to his treatment and is now on a maintenance oral-administered chemotherapy which he will need to take until summer 2019.

The youngster is now supporting TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign in support of Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens.

The campaign urges people to donate good quality clothing, accessories and homeware they no longer need to their nearest TK Maxx store.

Each bag donated could raise up to £30 when sold in Cancer Research UK shops with the money raised helping fund research to find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer.

Lynn-Marie, who volunteers at her sons’ primary school, said: “That’s why raising funds for Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens is so important.

“Corey, Tyler and I will be having a good clear out at home and finding clothes and items to donate to our local TK Maxx store. I hope everyone in the North-West gets behind the campaign by raiding their wardrobes to help raise funds for such a fantastic cause.”

Corey is one of around 175 children in the North-West who are diagnosed with cancer every year.

Jane Bullock, Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens spokesman for the North West, said: “It’s fantastic to see Corey as the face of Give up Clothes for Good – he has been through so much at such a young age.

“Thanks to research, more children and young people are surviving cancer than ever before. But there’s still so much more to do.

“Our mission is to bring forward the day when no youngster dies of cancer. And that those who survive do so with a good quality of life.”

“We’re able to carry out research to help find new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer thanks to donations raised through campaigns like Give Up Clothes for Good."

TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s research into children's cancers. Since 2004, they have raised over £32 million for Cancer Research UK’s work through stock and cash donations.

Of that total, over £28 million contributes specifically to pioneering research into new, better and kinder treatments for children and young people with cancer, with a further £4 million supporting general cancer research.

Jo Murphy, AVP Corporate Responsibility TJX Europe said: “At TK Maxx we’re committed to supporting children and young people in our local communities.

"We’re really proud to work together with Cancer Research UK to help beat children’s cancers sooner and we hope that everyone will join us by supporting Give Up Clothes for Good this February.”

Donated items are being collected from all TK Maxx stores across the UK, including the store in Union Street, Oldham.

For more information on how to support Give up Clothes for Good and Cancer Research UK Kids & Teens, visit cruk.org/kidsandteens