ipswich: A new scheme is today set to help child cancer sufferers at Ipswich Hospital cope with their illness and face the disease.

The charity Be Child Cancer Aware is sponsoring the Beads of Courage programme, bringing it across the pond from America, where it is already a success.

The charity was set up by Essex couple John and Sarah Drummond, whose son Ted, now four, has more than 2,000 beads after he was diagnosed at six months old.

Mr Drummond said the chains represent a “physical journal” of each child’s individual battle with the disease.

“They are little heroes,” he said. “When you think what they have to go through, a daily fight with this ruthless disease, the beads of courage are a way of representing their journey.”

The beads will soon be available to patients at the Heath Road trust after a training day at Addenbrooke’s Hospital today.

When youngsters go to their next appointments at Ipswich Hospital their parents can ask about the scheme and they will receive their chain, with retrospective beads to ensure their whole treatment journey is marked.

Then each time they undergo a procedure, such as an operation, chemotherapy session or x-ray, they will receive another glass bead to add to their colourful chain.

Mr Drummond added: “We are thrilled that Ipswich and Addenbrooke’s are on board, there are 10,000 Teds out there, other children fighting cancer and we hope one day they will all have their own chain.”

n Visit www.bechildcancer aware.org for more information.

n Is your child bravely battling the disease? E-mail health reporter Lizzie Parry at lizzie.parry@archant.co.uk or call 01473 324739.