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W W W . N O R T H A M P T O N – L O C A L . C O . U K<br />
39<br />
Approximately one hundred children in the UK will be diagnosed every year with<br />
Neuroblastoma, and of those around half will be in the high-risk category. The<br />
treatment is punishing - a prolonged course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, stem<br />
cell replacement and immunotherapy over one year, and major surgery to remove<br />
the tumour. It is a challenging illness to treat and Magnus will require constant<br />
monitoring in the years following.<br />
Amazingly Magnus has responded as well as can be hoped to the treatment so far;<br />
an embodiment of the spirit and strength of the Viking warriors that he so loves.<br />
For his Viking-themed sixth birthday party in April Magnus was so determined not to<br />
disappoint his guests that he received a blood transfusion in the morning to give<br />
him the energy to conquer the day. The Mighty Magnus Medicine Fund was<br />
created in May to raise funds for essential treatment not offered by the NHS. At the<br />
time a vital drug required for treatment - Dinutuximab Beta - was not available and<br />
the family faced the prospect of having to fund this themselves.<br />
Thankfully the NHS has now since advised that it will fund this drug following a<br />
public campaign. This has come as a massive relief for Magnus’ family and the<br />
other families who were facing months of uncertainty.<br />
But, in order to give Magnus the best chance of survival and avoid the high risk of<br />
relapse, he will need access to the latest and most innovative treatments currently<br />
only available in the US and elsewhere. Facebook and Just Giving pages have<br />
been set up for the Mighty Magnus Medicine Fund, and they would love to hear<br />
from you if you can assist in any way with organising events or fund raising.<br />
Please visit the Mighty Magnus Medicine Fund Facebook page for details of more<br />
planned events or if you would like to receive our updates please send your email<br />
address to admin@mightymagnusmedicine.co.uk and you will be added to the<br />
mailing list. Alternatively if you’d like to make a donation, please visit our<br />
fundraising page www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/magnusfund.<br />
@<br />
mightymagnusmedicine.co.uk<br />
_mighty_magnus<br />
To advertise in the next edition - advertise@northampton-local.co.uk - 07738 024 823
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