Frank Bruno's Plea: Help Boy's Final Wishes

Former world heavyweight champion Frank Bruno has issued an urgent plea to his supporters to back a fundraising campaign for 10-year-old Stanley Batten, who is battling terminal brain cancer. Stanley was first diagnosed at age six, and despite ongoing treatment, his family recently received the devastating news that further medical intervention is not possible.

With only months left to live, Stanley's family aims to fulfill his bucket list and ensure his birthday on March 1 is special, including a request for numerous birthday cards. Bruno shared this call to action online, encouraging fans to send cards and contribute to Stanley's wish list. The response has been extraordinary, with the fundraising total rapidly climbing past the initial £15,500 goal to over £18,000.

Stanley's mother, Kirsty Bramble, expressed profound gratitude, stating the funds will enable the family to create significant memories with their son. She highlighted the overwhelming support received since Tuesday, noting that even Stanley's palliative care team was moved by the generosity. The donations will allow Stanley to live his best possible life, given the circumstances.

Stanley, from Harlow, Essex, initially fell ill at age six and was misdiagnosed with migraines. His condition worsened, leading to hospitalization and emergency brain surgery at Great Ormond Street Hospital to remove a tumor. Although most of the tumor was removed, the surgery resulted in hearing loss, and Stanley faced a long recovery, relearning basic motor skills and speech. He endured extensive chemotherapy and proton beam therapy, but the cancer returned and spread to his spine, requiring further treatments and surgeries.

Despite these efforts, the cancer continued to relapse. His medical team has now concluded that treatment cannot cure him. With the cancer spreading rapidly, doctors estimate Stanley has only a few months remaining. The family is focused on making the most of this limited time with their son, who experiences significant fatigue, balance issues, speech difficulties, and struggles with processing information due to the cancer's effects.