Friends of an Ipswich teenager diagnosed with a rare cancer have raised over £3,000 in his name

East Anglian Daily Times: 17-year-old Harrison was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer Picture: RACHEL EDGE17-year-old Harrison was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of cancer Picture: RACHEL EDGE

Harrison Farrow was a fit and healthy 17-year-old when he was diagnosed with a plasmablastic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer so rare that the case is believed to be the first seen in the world for a decade.

Thankfully Harrison has a strong group of friends and family around him and his friends Oliver Harvey-Lloyd and Charlie Harvey-Lloyd both 13, with Oscar Kent, 14, raised £3,453 and counting, for the Teenage Cancer Trust by shaving their heads.

Read more about Harrison Farrow’s story here.

Anna Harvey-Lloyd, Charlie and Oliver’s mother, said: “They’re all pleased with how much they have raised, I don’t think they can believe it really.

East Anglian Daily Times: Oliver, Charlie and Oscar proudly show-off their freshly shaved heads Picture: ANNA HARVEY-LLOYDOliver, Charlie and Oscar proudly show-off their freshly shaved heads Picture: ANNA HARVEY-LLOYD (Image: Archant)

“We actually did the shave back in July and the boys’ hair has just about grown back in time for school but the money is still coming in.”

Harrison first felt a pain in his leg back in March which he believed was caused by an insect bite.

A tiny lump had appeared on the 17-year-old’s leg, which at the time seemed innocuous.

However, it was not an insect bite at all – the lump began to grow and it was later confirmed as the rare plasmablastic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a condition almost unheard of in a person of his age. He has been undergoing chemotherapy.

Ms Harvey-Lloyd said: “When Harrison was diagnosed it became clear that he was obviously going to lose his hair.

“When the boys found out they decided that they wanted to do something for him to show some brotherly solidarity, to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust and to also raise some awareness.”

Harrison, a former Copleston High School pupil who is now an apprentice with Seafast in Felixstowe, began chemotherapy in June at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Each phase takes up to six days, during which he stays at the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT) Unit there.

His family say without the TCT facility at Addenbrooke’s, the ordeal would have been so much harder, part of the reason why the boys were so keen to raise money for the charity.

You can still donate the lad’s brave the shave by visiting their Just Giving page.