The family of a four-year-old boy in Cyprus with a rare cancer have made a public plea to help fund his trip to America to take part in a clinical trial, for which €250,000 (close to 400.000 Australian dollars) is needed.

Nicholas, who is an Australian citizen,  was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic high-risk Neuroblastoma over Christmas. After undergoing eight rapid chemotherapy treatments in Cyprus, he and his mother Alfia went to Germany in March, where he is expected to stay for about a year and undergo surgery for the removal of the tumour in his stomach, stem cell transfer and high dose chemotherapy treatments.

The boy is currently undergoing a bone marrow transplant in Berlin, his father, Steven told the Cyprus Mail.

“Unfortunately, even after all this treatment, the chance of Neuroblastoma relapse is high (about 60 per cent). Once you relapse your chance of survival goes down to 10 per cent,” the family wrote on Nicholas the Brave Facebook page, where they have set a fund raiser and publish updates on Nicholas’ health.

With €60,000 already raised from their 1,200 followers on social media, the aim is to raise €250,000 to access the vaccine trial in America to give Nicholas the best chance of survival.

“This vaccine will train his body to recognise cancer cells so that his immune system can kill them off before they spread,” the family explained.

Born in Limassol, Nicholas is described by his father (who is also an Australian citizen)  as a “fun loving boy who loves dinosaurs and his toy cars”. He is trilingual, speaking fluent Greek, English and Russian.

“We are putting it all in God’s hands and the doctors’ and nurses’ skills and abilities to make our boy well again. No child should go through this. There are no words to describe the pain and heartbreak of having to watch your own child suffer like this,” the family said.

To donate:

Go Get Funding: https://gogetfunding.com/nicholas-the-brave/

Bank of Cyprus

Account Number 033700004185

IBAN CY88002003370000000000418500

SWIFT / BIC BCYPCY2N

Account Name TAIROVA ALFIA

Revolute: @alfia2a5i

Beneficiary Alfia Tairova

IBAN LT89 3250 0481 3187 0275

BIC REVOLT21

Paypal: paypal.me/NicholasFightsCancer

Paypal email: nicholassofocleous81@gmail.com (Through a personal friends and family payment to avoid fees)

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