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A mum who survived cancer only to be told her son has the disease is facing her greatest fear to raise funds to help others.
Gemma Griffin, from Broadstairs , will jump 10,000 feet out of a plane on Sunday for charity CLIC Sargent, which has supported the family ever since Ellis, now 13, was diagnosed with bone cancer osteosarcoma in December.
The Dane Court Grammar School pupil, who also fought off Covid-19 and sepsis while undergoing treatment, started chemo at University College Hospital London in January.
In March he had 20cm of his femur, knee and tibia replaced with a bendable titanium prosthesis and finished chemotherapy in August, ready to start back at school.
His mum says he has been courageous throughout his ordeal and after surgery was back on his feet walking up stairs within four days, amazing medics who said it would take 12 weeks.
"He was riding his bike within nine weeks and has happily gone back to school," said Gemma.
"He always said 'what's the point in being scared? It doesn't change anything' so we stuck to that."
The 36-year-old says their difficult journey was made much easier due to help from CLIC Sargent.
"They support young people and families facing cancer," she said.
"We were allocated a support worker who quickly became our lifeline.
"In a new found world of fear, big medical words and appointments, she kept us grounded.
"If we had to face it, she was there to support us. She still is."
Gemma, who had a seven year battle with thyroid cancer, also wants to raise awareness about osteosarcoma, which is a fast-growing cancer, to make sure people get any symptoms checked quickly.
"Ellis' was a grade three and it was caught early," she said. "If it hadn't have been, it would have spread quickly and gone to his lungs, which would have been harder to get rid of.
"He had a lump on the top of his knee and pain, said to just be growing pains, but I pushed and pushed and he eventually had an X-ray and was referred to London.
"It's not GPs doing anything wrong - there's just not enough information."
Gemma says watching how brave Ellis has been inspired her to do the skydive.
"He has had six rounds and 29 weeks of gruelling chemo, scans and tests," she said.
"Ellis faces fear head on. He is determined and brave in ways I can’t fathom. I am in awe of him.
"Whatever he gets thrown at him, he gets up, straightens his cap and carries on. Like a boss.
"So it got me thinking. One of the things I am scared of the most, is heights.
"What if I faced my worst fear, to help children like Ellis? Children who have no choice but to tackle their fear head on."
She has chosen September 13 due to it being the day, seven years ago she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer.
She also wanted it to be September, as it is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.
"I will face my biggest fear, knowing I can hopefully support CLIC Sargent, like they’ve supported us," she said.
"If Children like Ellis can look fear straight in the face, then so can I."
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