Four-year-old boy battling leukemia dies

Date published: 27 March 2024


Four-year-old Whitworth boy Tommy Squibbs has tragically passed away after losing a brave battle with cancer.

Tommy was diagnosed with leukaemia in early September 2023, after his parents Daniel, a football coach, and Charlotte, a teacher, took him to the doctors with a rash.

Tommy had been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia - an aggressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
Tommy, who was non-verbal and had Down syndrome, underwent a successful operation at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on 7 September last year so he could start chemotherapy straight away.

However, his mum Charlotte Squibbs confirmed the news of his passing in a heart-breaking Facebook post over the weekend.

She wrote: "Our special little boy Tommy passed away peacefully this morning with mummy and daddy laying next to him."

Soon after Tommy's diagnosis, a GoFundMe fundraising page was set up to ease the financial pressure on the family, as Daniel, who has run local football club Dan’s Dribblers for 10 years, was self-employed, while Charlotte started a new job on the day Tommy was diagnosed.

To date, well over £12,000 has been raised following an initial target of £5,000.
 

 

The Squibbs family: Daniel and Charlotte with their children Louie, Reggie and Tommy
The Squibbs family: Daniel and Charlotte with their children Louie, Reggie and Tommy

 

Now, however, Charlotte Cannon from Shawclough Tigers, a football team Tommy's brother Louie plays for, has created a further JustGiving fundraising page, and already that initial target of raising £250 has been smashed.
On top of that, the Tigers' parents have organised a very special fundraising rounders match for the team to take part in.

That will take place today (Wednesday 27 March).

Charlotte posted: "As a team we have decided that we would love to try and raise as much money as possible to donate to Tommy's lovely family, Charlie, Dan, Louie and Reggie.

"We are going to hold a rounders fundraiser on 27th March 2024, instead of our usual football training.

"Please show your support to our team, Tommy and his family and give what you can to this amazing family."

Donations can be made via JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/charlotte-cannon

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