Battling on for charlie

Paul Jarvis faced the news every parent dreads. The 39-year-old had already seen his father die of cancer when doctors told him his daughter Charlie had contracted a rare form of the disease.

They warned Paul and wife Samantha that Charlie's life might only be counted in weeks.

Having been unable to help his father Kenneth, who, despite a stoic battle with prostate cancer, died just a few years before, Paul was determined to do everything he could for his daughter.

As the Evening Advertiser followed Charlie's fight against neuroblastoma, Swindon folk opened up their hearts to the youngster.

Charlie, five, has now become Swindon's adopted daughter. And just two months ago came the happy news that her condition had significantly improved.

Now 39-year-old Paul, who works as a printer, is hoping Swindonians will once again dig deep so that other cancer sufferers may be helped by Macmillan nurses.

He said: "My father's situation was totally different from Charlie's. He was an old-fashioned man who had a stubborn streak. Although he was in agony for the last three years of his life, he never went to a doctor about the pain. He just lived with it.

"He was very proud and of the old school temperament. When the cancer was finally diagnosed it was too far gone to do anything about it. He didn't tell us until a few weeks before he died."

Kenneth, a former RAF aircraft engineer, was then put in touch with Macmillan nurses who cared for him during his last few weeks.

Paul, from Greenmeadow, said: "Macmillan is one of those services that you don't know much about until you have to. You could compare it to the fire service in a way.

"People don't realise how good the nurses are until someone they love has been diagnosed with cancer.

"The nurses were brilliant. In a way the support they gave was more beneficial to my mum and sisters than my father, because they cared for them too.

"Cancer really affects the carers so it is important they get support too."

Mr Jarvis, who was 70 when he died seven years ago, had been a scout leader for 50 years. He loved the great outdoors and maintained a level of fitness most young men would envy.

Paul remembered an evening when he accompanied his father to work.

He said: "I was about 16 at the time and my dad was 54. He was working as a lift engineer and one night was called out to a faulty lift.

"When we got there he pulled himself all the way up the lift shaft. It was amazing. He was a big, strong guy. Nothing used to hurt him."

He added: "I think the fact that my father had caught the end of World War Two gave him the stubbornside he wouldn't give in to anything.

"I felt annoyed that he never went to the doctors because his refusal meant that he died.

"He kept the pain to himself because he knew we would want him to have the operation and treatment."

Now Paul and his family are celebrating Charlie's progress.

For the first time since her diagnosis in August 2001, a scan in January revealed that her condition had significantly improved.

Her consultant paediatrician Dr Helen Price was cautious about jumping to any conclusions but said that the test showed a reduction in cancerous cells in Charlie's head and abdomen.

Paul said: "Charlie is looking and feeling very happy. She has been gradually putting on weight and is now a healthier three stone. It's great news."

Businesses and individuals from around the town raised £100,000 for revolutionary treatment in Texas.

How you can help

The Evening Advertiser launched the Swindon Cancer Appeal in aid of Macmillan last week.

Already the support and response has been overwhelming. The aim of the campaign is to raise enough money for two new Macmillan nurses for the Great Western Hospital and a specialist consultant in cancer care who will work at the GWH and the Prospect Hospice.

Around £600,000 is needed to fund these posts for three years, after which the NHS will take over. Some of the money raised will also go towards a fund for a part-time anaesthetist.

We want you to launch your own fundraising crusade to provide better care for cancer sufferers.

There are hundreds of ways you can help improve the lives of people living with this devastating disease.

We want the whole community to get into the fundraising spirit. Schools, businesses, pubs, youth clubs, enterprising individuals and community groups can all play their part.

Anyone organising a fundraising event can get support and advice from Macmillan's Swindon office, which can be contacted on Swindon 601636 or 601637.

Coupons will be printed in the Advertiser for anyone organising an event. Fill in the details and send your coupons to Macmillan Cancer Relief, 30-33 Milton Road, Swindon, SN1 5JA. We will give publicity to as many events as possible, and try to provide coverage on the day.

If you don't want to organise an event, making a direct donation is simple. Just fill in the coupon below and send it to the Macmillan office at the same address.

Cheques should be made payable to Evening Advertiser Appeal. Cheques can also be paid into any branch of the Nationwide Building Society. Do not send cash in the post.

Donations can also be made on our own website. Log on to www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk and follow the instructions. If you would like to have a collection box contact Helen Marks in our marketing department on (01793) 528144 ext 308.

To make a donation to the appeal online, click here.

Tell us about your fundraising event, click here.