Arsenal fan Jesse Brown, four, at the Emirates Stadium
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The parents of a four-year-old boy fighting a rare childhood soft tissue cancer are fundraising at Christmas to send him abroad for pioneering treatment.
Arsenal fan Jesse Brown – pictured with star striker Kai Havertz - was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at just 16-months-old after complaining of abdominal pain at night.
He underwent 12 months of chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital but in spring this year routine scans revealed that Jesse’s pelvic tumour had begun to rapidly grow again.
Jesse has been offered specialised chemotherapy by German doctors which parents Simon and Anna Brown believe could significantly increase the chances of successful surgery and improve his long-term prognosis.
The treatment, which may gain control of their child’s disease, is not available through the NHS.
But on a GoFundMe page, which has already raised nearly £60,000 for the live-saving trip, teacher Mr Brown, 40, said: “We need to act quickly.”
Jesse Brown and his father Simon meet Arsenal player Kai Havertz
He told the Standard Jesse wants to be a policeman when he’s older so he can “lock up the baddies”.
Mr Brown, of Finsbury Park, added: “He’s a super bright boy with a great sense of humour, who likes telling jokes and is witty.
“Jesse is observant, brave, resilient, positive, loyal, honest and a problem solver. He loves singing, playing music, sports and reading.”
He met Premier League footballer Havertz, 26, at a local hospice and has been to watch matches at the Emirates Stadium.
Mr Brown and his 37-year-old wife, a charity worker, have another son Jonah, aged 10 months.
He said: “Jesse understands a little bit about what is going on around him. There’s a degree of frustration. He spends more time with adults than kids because of what is happening.
“He’s got a lot of wires coming in and out of him for medicines and hydration. Before that, he could run around a bit but it has slowed him down.”
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Mr Brown spoke out to raise awareness of rhabdomyosarcoma - an aggressive type of cancer that primarily affects children, adding: “Despite three years of difficult treatment, Jesse lives each day to the full, he’s positive and doesn’t let anything stop him enjoying life.
“We want him to continually be surrounded by the peace, love, joy and hope that Jesus brings at Christmas.
“Jesse loves praying and asking questions about God. It would mean a lot to us and him that from darkness comes the light and takes pressure off us as a family.
“The German doctors receive patients from all over Europe but can’t understand why the NHS don’t fund the treatment.
“It’s about giving Jesse a chance.”