Cancer patient Callum Flynn hands over £5,000 fund raising cheque and is given the all clear on his birthday (From Leigh Journal)

Cancer patient Callum Flynn hands over £5,000 fund raising cheque and is given the all clear on his birthday

12:00pm Wednesday 24th March 2010 in

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A TRAUMATIC year for bionic boy Callum Flynn ended with the best possible birthday gift.

A year to the day after being diagnosed with osteocarcoma, he handed over £5,000 raised to help other cancer patients - and got his nine months all clear Now Callum, whose fund raising for the Bone Cancer Research Trust was backed all the way by Coronation Street actor Alan “Tyrone Dobbs” Halsall, his school Bedford High, Leigh’s health minister MP Andy Burnham, friends and relatives, Waterfields and Leigh Centurions now wants to thank everyone for their support.

Callum, of Carrington Grove, Leigh, was diagnosed on March 12 last year, but after treatment at Manchester Children’s Hospital and titanium knee replacement surgery in Birmingham he is well on the way to recovery.

Though he is undergoing intensive physiotherapy he joined a sponsored bike challenge, organised by his proud aunt, Maria Flynn, and they launched a week long Pound the Streets campaign to raise more cash, ending with a finale and cheque presentation on his 15th birthday Now the cricket mad youngster can’t wait to be back with his Moorside CC team this season after a year out.

Maria, of Clyde Road, Astley, said: “The Leigh people have been amazing and we would like to thank them so much.

“It was quite an emotional time for all the family to see Callum hand over the cheque. He has been through so much and to see him achieve this was magnificent.

“I am so proud of Callum. He has had the worse year with the chemotherapy and the limb salvage. To go from that and still want to fight to help others by raising the money and most important awareness is fantastic. Words just can’t describe just how much of an inspiration he is. He is my hero.”

The money came from the bike ride, campaign, Waterfields selling special cakes and non-uniform days at school where headteacher. Mr Stephen Preston, provided a buffet for the final day when Callum handed over his cheque to Patrick Hardman, founder member of the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

Fund raising will continue in future, Maria added: “It has been a fantastic week. I will never forget what we have achieved. Callum has truly put Leigh on the map.”