Over £9,000 has been raised for a Penrith school pupil and Carlisle United fan who needs to undergo six months of cancer treatment at Newcastle’s RVI hospital.
After Jack Musgrave, 15, of Little Salkeld — who is a year 10 student at Ullswater Community College — was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the community rallied round and great support has also been provided by staff and players at Carlisle United.
Jack’s mum, Linda Hebson said: “It’s just unbelievable what everyone has done.”
Penrith businessman Dan Harding, of Foundry 34 restaurant and hotel, got in touch with her to say that he wanted to help out with the cost of fuel, accommodation, food at the hospital and anything Jack wants while undergoing treatment by setting up a JustGiving page, which has currently received donations of around £9,000.
“It has just absolutely snowballed,” said Linda.
A 12-hour spinathon took place in the reception at Penrith Leisure Centre from 8am to 8pm, which raised a total of £463.39.
Staff and a group of pupils from Ullswater Community College, including some of Jack’s friends, took part.
His friends are also going to be doing a sponsored walk around the Ullswater Way, while another group are planning on running around the lake, said Linda.
In addition, the Geoff Brown Charitable Trust, which runs a charity in Cumbria and South West Scotland, has put £500-worth of fuel on an account at a garage to help with trips to and from Newcastle.
“I will never be able to thank everybody enough,” said Linda.
Jack has started his treatment and underwent five days of chemotherapy at the hospital. After getting back from the RVI, they called into Penrith Leisure Centre where the 12-hour sponsored spinathon was taking place.
“There was a queue of kids waiting to get on the bikes. It was amazing,” said Linda.
They also called in to the Penrith office of accountants Armstrong Watson, who presented Jack with signed Carlisle United photograph which they have had framed.
Prior to that, two Carlisle United players came to see him – goalkeeper Gabriel Breeze from Penrith and defender Paul Huntington – while he was training for Calthwaite Under-16s, who he plays for, at Newton Rigg.
They brought him signed goalkeeper gloves, a signed football, a Jon Mellish signed match shirt and Paul Huntingdon’s Wembley shorts.
“It was absolutely amazing. We were stood for about an hour talking to them. It was really cold and raining,” said Linda, who herself is a lifelong Carlisle United fan.
Jack lives with his mum, older sister, Tara Horn, 17, who attends Kendal art college and a younger brother, 12-year-old Mason Musgrave, who is in year 8 at UCC.
He also has a younger sister and brother, Roxy and Freddie Musgrave, who are both at primary school.
Jack was due to return to Newcastle RVI last week for the first of three weekly day-long treatment sessions ahead of a further five-day block.
“We will do that on a cycle for four cycles and then he will have another scan to see if it is working,” said Linda.
“’All my family and friends have been amazing. We have had so many offers of help with shopping or offering to give lifts. Jack’s dad (Adam) is going to take him over for some of his treatment days, too.
“And the staff and the Carlisle United team have been amazing. The players have been texting to see how he is getting on,” said Linda, who has had to put her cake business, Linda’s cupcakes, on hold, as a result of Jack’s diagnosis which had come as a real shock for the whole family.
“It has been quite quick,” said Linda of Jack’s diagnosis.
After a lump was found on his neck at the end of August, Jack had an ultrasound in the middle of September which showed his lymph nodes were up.
“Then he went for an X-ray at Penrith for a pain in his chest and it revealed a shadow on his windpipe and they sent us back to Carlisle hospital.”
With the fund which had been set up, Linda said Jack had been and got himself an iPad while at Newcastle, but any money which they don’t use is going to be split between the Teenage Cancer Trust and the children’s cancer ward at the RVI.
