The family of a Huntingdonshire boy recently diagnosed with a rare form of cancer are in a "race against time" to raise money for new, life-saving treatment. 

Jamie Covington has Rhabdomyosarcoma and despite nine rounds of chemotherapy and 23 rounds of radiotherapy, he relapsed after just six months. 

Now his family are looking to raise £300,000 to take him to University Children's Hospital in Tuebingen, Germany, which offers an immunotherapy vaccine for children with Rhabdomyosarcoma that have relapsed. 

The 13-year-old, from Godmanchester, was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive type of cancer in May 2023.

After visits to Addenbrooke's and his local GP, Jamie was told he had high risk metastatic Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, which had spread throughout his body. 

His mum, Sam Holson, told The Hunts Post: "I had absolutely no idea what 'Sarcoma' was until we received the devastating news about Jamie. 

"You go through every emotion from tears, heartbreak, pain, immense stress and questioning why this is happening to a young innocent, smart, beautiful child, and I found myself questioning what life is all about and how this could possibly be fair.

"As parents we were heartbroken for Jamie, and we were dreading telling his brother and the rest of our family. We were admitted to ward C2 at Addenbrookes, where it took a further few days and what his treatment plan would be."

Jamie was treated with a course of nine rounds of chemotherapy for six months, followed by 23 rounds of "extremely harsh" radiotherapy. 

After each round, Jamie would become neutropenic spiking a high temperature, which meant he would often have to be admitted days at a time. 

He told The Hunts Post: "When I was told I had cancer I felt really shocked, I didn't really understand it and how it could be happening.

"I was sad to have to give up football and spend time away from my friends. My first lot of chemotherapy treatment used to make me feel really poorly, and very sick.

"I would dread going back into hospital for treatment, especially when I had to stay in. I just wanted to be at home doing normal things like my friends." 

Sam added: "The whole process was relentless. We knew that the treatment and side effects would be difficult, but we never realised the toll it would take on his health and on us as a family watching him become so sick.

"The challenging aspect of Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS) is keeping it away after treatment has stopped, particularly if it has metastasised to other parts of the body."

Jamie was treated with oral maintenance medication and post-IVADO chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. 

Soon, the 13-year-old's hair began to grow back, he started to gain weight and was able to return to school and even began football training. 

Tragically, within six months Jamie received the devastating news that he had relapsed and his cancer had returned. 

Sam added: "He's now on his fourteenth round of chemo and he is responding well. The lumps are shrinking and everything is moving in the right direction, but we are all too aware that it could return at any time. 

"We'll do anything which is why we're looking into new trials and treatments and believe that the trial being offered in Germany offers Jamie the best possible opportunity to save him and give him the future he deserves." 

You can support Jamie's fundraiser by visiting his family’s crowdfunding page.