A family from Eye is celebrating its fundraising efforts in memory of their five-year-old son who died of a rare form of cancer.

Elliott Cantrell spent the summer of 2019 playing with his friends. In October that same year, he was being blue-lighted to Addenbrooke's Hospital and was diagnosed with Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL).

Elliott's mum, Andrea Cantrell, said that the doctors were "confident" they could cure Elliott's cancer. Unfortunately, Elliott's treatment plan had to be amended several times as it was not working properly.

Elliott Cantrell was diagnosed with cancer when he was five-years-old.Elliott Cantrell was diagnosed with cancer when he was five-years-old. (Image: Cantrell Family)

In February 2020, Elliott was allowed home and it was confirmed he was in cancer-free and in remission.

Andrea said: "At the end of March, Elliott started to complain of eye pain and headaches.

"A scan showed the cancer had masked itself in his eye and spread to his brain – something it had never done before. Elliott was put into a coma-like state and further treatment started.

"On 21 April, Elliott lost his fight and sadly passed away."

Andrea's friend, Victoria Lenton, then set up Elliott's Army, a Special Named Fund at Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group.

The Cantrell Family with Elliott.The Cantrell Family with Elliott. (Image: Cantrell Family)

All of the money that Elliott's Army raise goes towards vital research into ALCL and finding a cure. So far, they have raised more than £30,000.

Andrea said that her and Wesley, Elliott's father, are "so very proud" of Elliott. They said: "If we can help in any way possible, we will, and will do it in Elliott’s memory."

Now, Elliott's Army have managed to support new research into lymphoma, led by Professor Suzanne Turner at the University of Cambridge and clinician scientist, Dr Lucy Hare.

The project will explore why some patients don't respond to a new type of treatment and look at ways to make this treatment more effective.

The new treatment, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), is gradually being introduced to treat children with ALCL.

Professor Turner said that research "could not have been conducted" without the funding from Elliott's Army.

Andrea added: "The support throughout from our friends and family has been absolutely amazing.

"We definitely couldn’t have dealt with each day without them.”