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Arthur is king of the park
Young Arthur Kingham moved a step closer to his life-changing treatment in Austria this weekend.
Arthur's family need to raise 15,000 to take the two-year-old from Mawsley to Austria for pioneering treatment that will wean him off his stomach-feeding tube and on to proper food again.
Arthur had the tube fitted last August when a tumour grew on his leg and he required extensive chemotherapy.
On Sunday, friends and family gathered at Brixworth Country Park for a sponsored walk that raised in the region of 1,500.
Arthur's mum Rachel said they are now about a third of the way to the target and his trip to the University Children's Hospital Graz in Austria has been booked for February.
Rachel said: "If somebody could give me a magic wand and we could go to Austria tomorrow I would.
"I have booked for us to go in February. If I didn't take that spot it would be months before we could go. We've got to go hell for leather in fundraising now.
"I find it amazing that by now there isn't somebody in this country who has been over to Austria, learned the techniques and brought it back to this country. If I was a doctor I'd have done it myself.
"The NHS don't see it as a priority because Arthur is fed through a tube but he is sick every day with this tube. It's not a good life to live, I want the best for him."
The programme combines reducing tube feeding with behavioural play- based therapy that aims to overcome Arthur's fears of food – born from the sickness he suffered while on chemotherapy.
Arthur's speech development has also slowed because he is not using his mouth to eat.
Rachel said: "The main success of the event at the weekend was getting the message out about Arthur.
"We had lots of people who were just in the park on the day and saw the signs and came up to talk to us.
"Arthur has had a really hard time, but at the moment his scan results are clear and we can breath easily for another three months."
Further fundraising events are planned with a Christmas fair in December and a ball in January.
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
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Light showers
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