Father of Wallsend boy diagnosed with rare cancer to take part in Great North Run

The father of a young boy from Wallsend who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, is running the Great North Run, to further raise awareness of the disease.

Arthur Salters-Hoult was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in March of this year, after lumps appeared on his head and throat.

Blood tests further revealed that Arthur had a chromosome mutation, and the young boy is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy.

The young Newcastle United fan, has been supported by his favourite football team, as they gifted him a Newcastle United team shirt with the words ‘You Can Do This Arthur’ on the back. The youngster was even visited by NUFC midfielder, Bruno Guimarães.

Arthur’s dad, Ricky Hoult will be running the Great North Run 2023, which will take place this Sunday, September 10 to raise money and awareness for Leukaemia UK.

Ricky set up a Go Fund Me page for donations, and has already surpassed his target of £2,000.

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He wrote in the description of the page: “I will be running the great north run to raise awareness of this horrible disease, and try and raise money for more research like they have over the last few years with their new trials that has been so effective with a brilliant success rate!

“Arthur is currently on this trial, without this, he would be looking at a 3 year treatment plan instead of 2 years! This is all recently changed within the last 6 months due to new research!

“Arthur has been told he is a worldwide first for treatment for his leukaemia. His genetics have mutated to a new form sequence they have never seen before in science!

“Arthur has got the best scientists in the world, working on his case.

“Come on Arthur you can do this.”

The page also gives further information of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is also known as ALL.

It says: “Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of leukaemia and therefore a type of blood cancer. The word ‘acute’ in the name indicates that the disease may progress very quickly. The word ‘lymphoblastic’ (sometimes called lymphocytic) refers to the type of blood cells affected – lymphoblasts.

“ALL is an aggressive type of leukaemia and can cause symptoms very quickly.

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is rare and is most often diagnosed in children aged 0-4 years. Adults can also be diagnosed with ALL.”

To donate to Ricky Hoult for Leukaemia UK, please visit his Go Fund Me page.