Chorley man hosts Clitheroe football match to help ex-Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers footballer Tommy Spurr whose son has rare form of stage four kidney cancer

No parent expects their child’s tummy ache to turn out to be a rare form of stage four kidney cancer.
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But that’s exactly what happened to an Old Langho dad and former Preston North End footballer Tommy Spurr and his three-year-old son, Rio when the toddler was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour on his kidney. Around 80 children are told they have a Wilms' tumour each year in the UK.

Even if his chemotherapy and radiotherapy are successful, Rio’s cancer has a one-in-two chance of returning and being incurable on the NHS, which means his family must fundraiser for treatments abroad. Now Chorley man Tony Cartwright is supporting the ex-Blackburn Rovers player and his family by hosting a charity football match on Sunday, September 25th, at Clitheroe Football Club with TV stars and sport legends.

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Speaking about his son’s devastating diagnosis, Tommy, formerly of Ribchester, said: “We’d gone from thinking it was just a sickness bug to finding a lump. Rio hadn’t had any signs of cancer, and was fine and going to nursery. We thought [the stomach ache] was nothing to worry about.”

Tommy Spurr's son Rio, inset, is battling a rare form of cancerTommy Spurr's son Rio, inset, is battling a rare form of cancer
Tommy Spurr's son Rio, inset, is battling a rare form of cancer

But, the 34-year-old added: “Within a week, our world had been turned upside down. It was devastating.

“It’s the hardest thing we’ve ever had to deal with. Everything happened really quickly.”

When Rio complained of a stomach ache in April, his parents noticed a lump on the right side of his tummy. His GP thought he had constipation or a reaction to a jab he’d recently had.

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But the toddler was violently sick a few days later and when his parents took him to A&E, medics thought he had a twisted bowel. He was transferred to Manchester Children’s Hospital for surgery but it was soon discovered that Rio had a large lump on one of his kidneys.

Rio Spurr.Rio Spurr.
Rio Spurr.

Within a week of having scans, Rio started six weeks of chemotherapy - longer than children normally have. He also had surgery to remove the tumour and the affected kidney, and will start radiotherapy next month.

“In that space of time, we found out it had spread to his lungs. It shook us, and shakes us up even to this day.” said Tommy.

“When you look at the prognosis for a Wilms tumour, it’s actually quite good so we were hopeful Rio would make a recovery. But now we’ve been told it’s below average, which is frightening.

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“Everything is out of our hands. We’re praying he’s one of the lucky ones who comes through it. We’ve no option but to hope he’s special.”

Tommy Spurr in action for PNETommy Spurr in action for PNE
Tommy Spurr in action for PNE

Medics have now advised Tommy and his partner Chloe, Rio’s mum, to start fundraising for treatment abroad in case their son’s cancer returns in the future.

“It’s hard to get rid of but there could be a chance in the future and we may need to try something in another country because his type of cancer is so rare,” the dad-of-two said.

"It’s scary.

“There’s not much out there but we’re still trying to find something that will give him a chance. It’s 50 percent likely to come back and if they say there’s nothing we can do over here then we’d need to raise as much as we can. I don’t want to take the risk of leaving it and not doing anything. We’d have then wasted nine months when we could have done something to help him.

Rio Spurr.Rio Spurr.
Rio Spurr.
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“As his dad, I’m not going to take that risk. I want to be prepared to give him every single opportunity.”

The couple, who also have an 18-month-old son Rudy, have been unable to work since their oldest child’s diagnosis due to lengthy hospital visits.

“It’s a testament to how strong my wife and I are as a team, bringing each other up,” said Tommy.

"It’s draining trying to be positive as parents when we’re really petrified."

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But the support from the community, he says, has helped to lift the family up.

"The support has been mind-blowing. It does mean the world to us. I want to say thank you to people and to Tony for involving us in the charity football game.”

Rio Spurr.Rio Spurr.
Rio Spurr.

They also look for inspiration to their son, Rio, who they say can still be seen singing and dancing as normal, bringing smiles to people’s faces wherever he goes.

“He’s a little performer and people are drawn to him. He’s been dancing at the hospital and makes the best of a bad situation. He’s a breath of fresh air, which sums him up.

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“He’s the most amazing little boy, just full of life. He’s so loving and caring. For a three-year-old to stroke your arm when you’re going to sleep takes our breath away.”

The charity match will feature Emmerdale’s James Hooton, Britain’s Got Talent alumni Steve Royle and Hollyoaks stars like Nick Pickard, Jacob Roberts and David Kennedy taking on former Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool FC players. Kick off is 2pm, with commentary by Stephen Lowe from Radio Lancashire and an auction taking place after the match.

It will also raise money for the care of Blackburn Rovers legend Tony Parkes, who has Alzheimer’s, as well as St Catherine’s Hospice in Lostock Hall and Crohn’s & Colitis UK.

Visit www.wegottickets.com to book a ticket. Entry is £5 per adult, £3 per under 16 and free for under fives. Child mascot is £20 and meet and greet is £30. Special Tony Parkes shirts are also on sale.