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Boy, 10, Paralysed by Rare Condition, Then Beats Cancer
8 Mar
Summary
- Charlie became paralysed from the waist down after a rare spinal AVM rupture.
- He was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in early 2019.
- His #TopBinsSmallWins challenge inspires nationwide fundraising for spinal rehab.
Charlie Fielding, now 10 years old, has faced extraordinary challenges. Born prematurely at 30 weeks, he became paralysed from the waist down at 18 months old after a rare arteriovenous malformation (AVM) on his spine ruptured, damaging his spinal cord. This condition, present since birth, gave no prior warning until the critical rupture occurred.
After an 18-month period of stability, Charlie's family received another devastating blow in early 2019 when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). This aggressive childhood cancer required a three-year battle, during which his physiotherapy progress was impacted, and he even broke his femur in August 2021.
Having successfully completed his cancer treatment in 2022, Charlie is now a viral sensation. His football-mad spirit led him to create the #TopBinsSmallWins challenge, encouraging others to film trick shots and donate to spinal injury rehabilitation centers like Neurokinex. This initiative has gained nationwide support, with football clubs actively participating in fundraisers, demonstrating Charlie's resilience and determination.
