Dad takes on Sheffield Children’s Hospital trek for 'inspirational’ three-year-old daughter

Little Alice Latham’s parents received the devastating news that their daughter had an aggressive neuroblastoma in January 2019, after her tummy became swollen and she began losing weight.

Following her shock diagnosis, Alice - who is now aged three - endured a rapid 80-day course of chemotherapy followed by a nine-hour operation to remove a tumour from her abdomen.

Now, a year on and with the end of her treatment in sight, dad Jamie is set to take on The Children’s Hospital Charity’s 2020 overseas challenge to say thank you for her care.

He said: “To our amazement, just five days after the surgery, Alice was home and dancing around the living room!

“Alice has made our hearts burst with pride with the miraculous resilience she has shown so far.

“It’s hard to imagine many things tougher than witnessing your child endure what she has just to give her a chance at a life which you took for granted before.

“We call her ‘Alice the alley cat’ because she keeps bouncing back.”

Now Jamie, aged 40, who is from Alfreton in Derbyshire, has signed up with The Children’s Hospital Charity to trek the Inca Trail in Peru.

Every penny he raises will help the charity transform the cancer and leukaemia ward which has been treating Alice with more private patient rooms and accommodation for parents.

He said: “She is a total inspiration and what is more she doesn’t even know it. If a three-year-old can be so inspiring, what do you do as her father?

“There’s only one answer. To step up, in the hope that one day you can tell her you did something to help.

“The staff are amazing and they do an incredible job. They have kept us going but their excellent care deserves facilities to match.

“We’ve probably been in every bed space and isolation room on the ward and we’re determined to help make the experience better for others where we can.”

To get involved in the appeal, visit www.tchc.org.uk/appeal.