Brave Chester boy Jaxon earns top cancer charity award

Jaxon Crawford, from Blacon, is now aged six and enjoying life at Dee Point Primary School.

Jaxon and Eli Crawford now.

The brave youngster has received a Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award, in partnership with TK Maxx.

Every child nominated receives the accolade, which is backed by a host of famous faces including celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, TV personality Dr Ranj Singh and children’s TV favourite Mister Maker.

Jaxon Crawford during treatment.

There is no judging panel because the charity believes every child diagnosed with cancer deserves special recognition. The awards are open to all children under 18 who live in the UK and have been treated for the disease within the past five years.

As well as a star-shaped trophy, Jaxon also received a £50 TK Maxx gift card, T-shirt and a certificate signed by the celebrities. His twin brother Eli received a certificate too.

Jaxon Crawford during treatment with twin Eli.

Jaxon’s mum Kelly Brunning became worried when he had a constant high temperature for four days, aged two.

The out of hours medical team in Ellesmere Port immediately spotted a bruise on Jaxon’s tummy. Jaxon also had other bruises which Kelly thought he had developed from bumping into things because he had just been diagnosed with an eye condition.

Kelly Brunning and her sons.

When the bruise on his tummy didn’t go, the same team advised Kelly to take Jaxon to the Countess of Chester Hospital for blood tests.

Kelly and her family were gobsmacked when the blood tests revealed Jaxon had acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) and he needed to be admitted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital immediately. At the time, Kelly was six months pregnant with the twins’ younger brother Dylan, who is now aged four.

Jaxon Crawford with baby brother Dylan.

Jaxon was given 30 days of steroids as well as starting intensive chemotherapy.

Kelly, who is now aged 30, took an early maternity leave from her job with the Post Office. She stayed at the hospital with Jaxon while his twin Eli was cared for by family at home.

Jaxon Crawford during treatment.

Initial tests after the first bout of treatment showed Jaxon needed even more intensive chemotherapy. He lost his hair which he was really shocked and upset by.

But Kelly reassured him by telling him he had magic hair which would grow back once he was out of hospital.

Jaxon was then placed on two years of “maintenance treatment” which meant taking oral chemotherapy every night at home in addition to ongoing chemotherapy at Alder Hey, lumbar punctures and steroids.

Jaxon Crawford celebrating the end of his chemo treatment.

He is now 12 months out of treatment and doing really well. Jaxon loves being at school with his two brothers. He still needs check-ups every three months.

Kelly has found readjusting to normal life harder than she expected after the regular safety net of seeing doctors and nurses most weeks for three and a half years. More than half of Jaxon’s life has been taken up by illness.

Single mum Kelly nominated Jaxon for the award.

Jaxon Crawford with mum Kelly Brunning.

She said: “The last few years have been a really stressful, awful time with so much going on. My pregnancy with Dylan wasn’t enjoyable and I felt real guilt by all the time spent away from Dylan and Eli when they were so young.

“I am very proud of Jaxon for settling in so well at primary school and getting on with life. I recently panicked when he was covered in bruises and feared he had relapsed, but then he told me he had been playing football with the older boys!”

Around 190 children are diagnosed with cancer in the North West every year, but research is helping to transform survival.

Jaxon, Eli and Dylan Crawford in Christmas pyjamas.

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool is one of the many centres across the UK taking part in ground-breaking clinical trials co-ordinated by Cancer Research UK’s Children's Cancer Trials Team. These trials make innovative new treatments available to children with cancer across the North West.

Through the Star Awards the charity hopes to shine a light on some of the challenges faced by children like Jaxon, which its scientists are working to tackle.

Cancer Research UK spokesperson for the North West, Jane Bullock, said: “Jaxon is a real star who has been through so much at such a young age.

"It has been an absolute privilege to be able to celebrate his courage with a Star Award.

“As we mark our 20th anniversary, we’re reflecting on the progress made in the fight against the disease, but there’s still much further to go. Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults, from the types of cancer to the impact of treatment - and many youngsters may experience serious long-term side effects.

"That’s why we’re supporting dedicated research to ensure more children and young people survive cancer with a good quality of life.

“We’re urging people in Cheshire to nominate inspirational children like Jaxon for a Star Award now, so that many more affected by this devastating disease can receive the acknowledgement they so richly deserve.”

The Star Awards are run in partnership with TK Maxx, the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s work into children’s and young people’s cancers.

Since 2004, the retailer has raised more than £42 million for vital research to help improve survival and reduce the long-term side effects of treatments.

Group marketing & corporate responsibility director at TJX Europe, Deborah Dolce, said: “As part of our commitment to support children and young people facing cancer, TK Maxx is delighted to support the Star Awards for the 14th year running.

"The awards recognise the incredible bravery and determination these children show as they undergo treatment and we are in awe of each and every one of them. Cancer Research UK is working tirelessly to improve survival rates and reduce long term side effects, and we are very pleased to continue to support their vital work.”

• To nominate a star, visit cruk.org/starawards