A COURAGEOUS four-year-old cancer sufferer has kicked off a major running event only 24-hours after he underwent a blood transfusion and chemotherapy.
Milo Carter was the VIP guest at the 5K Race for Life in Kirkcaldy, Fife, yesterday, where he inspired more than 2,000 runners who were raising funds for Cancer Research UK.
He was born with three holes in his heart then lost his right kidney to cancer after being diagnosed with Wilms tumour, a rare and aggressive cancer in both kidneys. His appearance was all the more remarkable because only the previous day he had undergone the latest stage of his treatment at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Milo, watched by his proud mother Sarah, 36, sounded the horn to start the race cheered by 50 pals and parents at Sunflower Nursery in Lochgelly who also took part.
She said: "Milo really liked the idea of starting the Race for Life today and I'm so proud of him.
"I call Milo my little Tonka truck as nothing knocks him. He just keeps going. The nursery staff and parents have been amazing. Through all of this it was really important to me that everything was kept as normal as possible for Milo and he's been at Sunflower nursery as often as he can be. That's why it's great they're all here today."
Mrs Carter, who was among the runners to complete the course dedicated her medal for competing to Milo, who has also endured radiotherapy is set to start school for the first time after the summer.
Many of the runners who took part in the Race for Life have survived cancer or were inspired to run by a loved one's battle with the disease. And all were united by a determination to raise funds for Cancer Research UK so one day all cancer will be cured.
Anna Thompson, Cancer Research UK's events manager, said: "We're inspired by the courage of Milo and it's wonderful to see how much support everyone at Sunflower Nursery has offered today."
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