A CHILDREN’S cancer charity has been awarded £25,000 which will be spent on a project which was inspired by a seven-year-old-boy.

The Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust received the funds for their project - Childhood Cancer: from hospital to classroom - after getting the most votes for the Tesco Bags of Help scheme.

The project involves using online technology with AV1 robots to keep children with cancer connected to their schoolfriends and involved within the classroom.

The idea of the AV1 project was inspired by Ben Crowther, who was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma in 2018. Ben’s family, from Tamworth, had managed to use an AV1 for a short while until he passed away earlier this year.

During this time, his affectionately named “BenBot” helped him linked with his friends and also to take part in his schoolwork and activities.

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Jen Kelly, founder of the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust said: “It has been wonderful to see how our AV1 machines have brought comfort to our families and this funding will enable us to help even more families. As a charity we would also like to remember and honour Ben Crowther who was the inspiration behind this project.

“It has helped to give Ben and his family much needed comfort and to give him the chance to interact with his classmates.

“In his memory, Ben’s mum, Sarah has kindly agreed for us to be able to share his story to show how he inspired this project that is helping children with cancer.”

At the moment these machines are rented, but the funds from the scheme means the trust will be able to buy these machines and others outright.

Dr Kelly added: “We are delighted to have received the maximal funding from the Tesco Centenary Bags of Help funding round.

“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, they face extended hospital stays and often prolonged periods in isolation as their immune systems are not strong enough to cope with normal childhood illnesses.”