A LOVING sister – aged just seven – has launched a petition calling for more research and funding into childhood cancer after her two-year-old brother passed away.
Darcie Peek’s online petition to the UK Government and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already attracted more than 1,200 signatures.
Her brother Dax died on August 31 last year, less than six months after he was initially diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma.
READ MORE: Tributes paid after death of young Dax
Recently, Darcie started gathering signatures from her classmates at Dunbar Primary School, with a view to “getting money for charity so I can get money to get better medicine for people like Dax”.
Dad Jonny said: “We have been very honest with her since the start of everything and tried to explain. We did not want to hide anything and thought that was the wrong thing to do.
“She struggles, especially at night time, trying to get to sleep, and misses Dax every day.
“She tells stories about him, and myself and her mum Devon have both been really open and honest.
“We love talking about Dax – it is not hush-hush.
“He is a big part of our lives and will be forever.”
Dax had taken unwell during the Dunbar family’s trip to Disneyland Paris last year.
Initially, doctors thought it could be Bell’s Palsy – a temporary weakness or lack of movement affecting one side of the face.
However, by the middle of March last year, he was struggling with his balance and was repeatedly sick.
Doctors later confirmed the youngster had a rhabdomyosarcoma – a rare aggressive children’s cancer.
Jonny, 33, said it had been “tough” for the family, who have received support from a variety of charities, including Maggie’s, CLIC Sargent and LoveOliver.
He added: “It is something you never want to go through and it is a very long road, if not a neverending road.
“We will never get over it, let’s be honest.”
Nearly 2,000 children across the UK are diagnosed with cancer each year.
Only two per cent of Government cancer research funding in the UK is fully dedicated to childhood (and young people) cancer. Instead, most funding comes from charities.
Jonny, who works offshore as an instrument technician, said that the experience had “completely” opened his eyes to the situation.
He said that the petition was something the family had been thinking about.
He added: “I think it is something in the back of our minds for a while.
“When you look into cancer research and where the money gets split up, not just in Scotland but worldwide, it is perceived, because the numbers are different in childhood cancer compared to adult cancer, the funding and research does not go into childhood cancer as much as adult cancer.
“That’s always been a bit of a niggle for us, especially after what we have been through.”
Darcie Peek, pictured with mum Devon and dad Jonny, has started a petition calling for more funding and research into childhood cancer after her younger brother Dax (front) died last year
Helen Gillanders, headteacher at Dunbar Primary School, backed Darcie.
She said: “As a school, we were devastated when Darcie lost her brother Dax to childhood cancer.
“It’s a horrible situation and one that no family should face.
“We are very proud of Darcie’s efforts to raise awareness to a wide audience. She has the full support of the Dunbar Primary School community.”
Helen Gravestock, associate director of policy, influencing and voice at CLIC Sargent, was pleased to hear about Darcie’s campaign.
She said: “I’m so sorry to hear about what the family have been through, it’s heartbreaking to lose a child.
“It’s great to see Darcie campaigning in this way after losing her little brother.
“We welcome the opportunity to make children and young people’s voices heard and would like to see kinder treatments developed for children with cancer because we know that the side effects can be incredibly hard to go through and can leave them with long-term mental and physical health issues.”
Kenny MacAskill, MP for East Lothian, praised Darcie’s efforts.
He said: “A death caused by cancer is tragic at any time but especially for one so young with so much life to live.
“This, though, is a remarkable gesture seeking to bring hope from tragedy and alleviate the sorrow of others that Darcie and her family are themselves facing.”
Iain Gray, East Lothian MSP, described Darcie’s story as “really inspirational”.
He added: “She and her family obviously went through a heartbreaking experience with Dax’s cancer, but her campaign for better funding and research is now helping to highlight this vital issue.
“I’ve always sought to support efforts to raise awareness of childhood cancer and initiatives to improve care, but there is undoubtedly still a long way to go, especially on research.
“I wish Darcie every success with her petition and hope it can contribute to increased funding and research for childhood cancer.”
To sign the petition, go to change.org/p/uk-parliament-increase-childhood-cancer-funding-and-research
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here