LITTLEPORT Primary School pupil Joshua Hinchliffe has battled cancer twice since 2007 and according to his mum he currently spends more of his time at Addenbrooke s Hospital in Cambridge than the classroom. After recovering from a tumour in his kidney l

LITTLEPORT Primary School pupil Joshua Hinchliffe has battled cancer twice since 2007 and according to his mum he currently spends more of his time at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge than the classroom.

After recovering from a tumour in his kidney last year, doctors found a lump the size of a melon in Joshua's pelvis during a routine x-ray on September 16.

Joshua's mum Janette told the Ely Standard that the six-year-old finds eating difficult as the tumour presses on his stomach and his weight has dropped to just 18 kilos after intensive chemotherapy. The cancer, which is in stage 5, is also in his liver, abdomen, pelvis and peritoneum (abdominal cavity lining).

But when Janette asked her son what would cheer him up he told her he liked receiving 'get well cards'.

Although Joshua has received lots of cards from family, friends and school friends, Jannette thought it would cheer Joshua up and has asked the Ely Standard to help.

Joshua, who lives out in the Fens near Southery, is obsessed with Land Rovers, but is banned from his father Peter's workshop because of the potential infection risk while his immune system is attacked by the chemotherapy.

"Joshua loves both the driving aspect and tinkering about with cars," said Janette, "and helping his dad in the workshop - handing him the screwdriver, things like that, but since he has had his Hickman line in, he hasn't been able to go in there."

Instead, Joshua has been play fighting with his younger brother Ben, three, who is at nursery and not yet old enough to fully understand why his brother is always the centre of attention.

"Joshua is very brave, but since the nose tube has gone in again it is uncomfortable for him and he can get tired and grumpy. If he had a few extra cards to look at that would make him so much happier."

Family and friends are rallying round - one cousin is organising a rollercoaster-riding day at Blackpool Pleasure Beach to raise money for a £4,000 mini-Land Rover for Joshua - who already loves haring around the garden on his quad bike.

"He either wants to be a farmer or a mechanic, but whatever happens he said he wants to be his own boss."

What Can You Do?

Help Joshua to get through his treatment by sending a card marked Joshua Hinchliffe, c/o Ely Standard, 38 Market Street, Ely CB7 4LS. All messages will be forwarded. You can also leave him a message on our special Joshua message board at www.elystandard24.co.uk/joshua