Brave to the Last (From Barry And District News)

Brave to the Last

THE Adamsons lost Jamie to acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in January 2004.

He was only five years old, but the brave and tenacious toddler had battled the disease for more than half of his young life.

Parents Paul and Nicola and older brother Sam, backed by the Barry & District News, have set up the Jamie Adamson Memorial Fund, to raise money to help fund research into the disease.

Kick-starting the cash collection by running the London Marathon, Paul wants everyone in the Vale of Glamorgan to dig deep.

He said: 'Together with my best friend, Ceri Binding, I will be taking on the marathon on April 17. We have started training and we are aiming to finish the race in just over four hours.

'Ceri has been my closest mate since school. Our friendship has lasted down the years and he has been with me and my family throughout Jamie's illness.

'It was his idea to run the 2005 London Marathon and raise money for charity.

'We have started training in our Children With Leukaemia vests - so if you see us when you are driving, give us a toot!'

Jamie was first diagnosed with ALL three years ago. Then just three years old, he accepted the three-year course of chemotherapy and the resulting, often painful, treatment that followed.

He suffered sickness, hair loss and joint pain as the doctors fought alongside him to conquer the disease.

Yet time and time again, the small child astounded his family and the teams of doctors and nurses who got to know him so well.

'He never once complained,' said Paul.

Sadly at the end of October 2003, Jamie's health deteriorated. A course of new treatment affected his heart and he died on January 20, 2004.