Joe Smale, of Chiswick, to join Sir Ian Botham on charity walk for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Joe Smale, of Chiswick, to join Sir Ian Botham on charity walk for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research

12:20pm Sunday 21st March 2010 in

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For most young boys, playing football or messing around in a swimming pool rate highly among their favourite things to do.

The majority think nothing of running around with their friends all day before collapsing exhausted into bed at night.

But for 12-year-old Joe Smale, who has twice been diagnosed with leukaemia, every day has been a fight to survive.

Joe, of Bedford Close, Chiswick, was first diagnosed with the life-threatening disease at just two years old.

He immediately started receiving intensive treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital as doctors tried to do all they could to battle the disease.

After three years of treatment, a five-year-old Joe was given the all-clear to the great relief of his parents Debbie and Tim.

For four years Joe was able to play with his friends like every other young boy until in 2007 the family were dealt the devastating news that the cancer, which targets the white blood cells, had returned.

Debbie said: “Joe was much older so it was much worse because he understood more of what was going on.

“He is such a sporty lad and all of a sudden he was isolated from his friends and unable to take part in football, swimming and all the things he loves.

“It was horrible – it came back quite unexpectedly and the treatment was more intensive and aggressive.”

She said the treatment meant her son found it difficult to keep up with his friends.

“It was really hard,” she said. “The treatment causes you to feel tired and not have the same energy.

“It doesn’t let you lead a normal life.”

But Joe remained upbeat throughout his treatment, which finished last November, and is now starting to enjoy the life of a typical 12-year-old boy after being given the all-clear.

He said: “Getting back to normal again is really great.

“Now I’ve finished my treatment, sport is my main priority.”

To acknowledge the youngster’s fight against the disease, Joe has been chosen as the London representative to join former cricketer Sir Ian “Beefy” Botham as he takes part in a special 25th anniversary walk to raise money to beat childhood leukaemia.

Carrying out the challenge for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, the famous sportsman, who is president of the charity, will be attempting to walk through 10 towns in 10 days, starting on April 10.

He will be setting off on the final day of the charity walk from London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital and will walk the 10-mile distance through the City to Hyde Park, where he will be joined by Joe and other members of the public.

Joe said: “It feels slightly odd there are so many kids who live in London, and yet they’ve chosen me to represent the area.

“He’s [Botham] totally dedicated to raising money.”

The former England test cricketer became involved with the charity when, in a Somerset hospital with an injured foot, he visited the children’s ward and discovered many of the children suffering from leukaemia had only weeks to live.

The walk will be the 25th Sir Ian has taken on for the charity, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Joe’s family has been working closely with the charity since he was first diagnosed with leukaemia.

For 10 years they have taken part in its annual sponsored bike ride, joined by friends and family, including Joe’s 80-year-old granddad, who has taken part in every year.

Joe has taken part in as many of the bike rides as possible, alongside his 10-year-old sister Holly.

In total the family has raised £23,000 for the charity, which works to find causes and treatments for leukaemia, along with running groundbreaking clinical trials to help find cures for the disease.

In 1985, only a fifth of children survived the most common form of childhood leukaemia – now 90 per cent survive this disease.

Debbie said: “Beefy’s walk is very easy to get involved with and while survival rates have improved – we’re still not there yet. We need 100 per cent success.”

To join Sir Ian on the London walk, visit beefy25.com, email beefy25@llresearch.org.uk or call 020 7685 5143.