Thread by @fleetstreetfox

There can be nothing quite so horrific, and quite so likely to convince you there is no God (or at least not a benign one) as cancer in children. /thread

It's mercifully rare, but horrifyingly more common than you'd think. In the 18 years I've been writing about the nuclear test veterans, I've lost count of the number who had grandchildren with rare cancers. /2

There was Gilly Herne, who died at 13 of adrenal cancer, which is more common in horses than humans. It made her grow a beard, and her dad Doug had to shave her twice a day. /3

Then there was Wayne Kinson, who had a neuroblastoma - cancer of the nervous system, of all the horrifically impossible things. Heaven knows how they can be cured, but they can. In Wayne's case it wasn't, and he died aged 7. mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/g… /4

But these things happen, too, to people who were never at a nuclear test. A year ago @almurray learned his nephew Finley had blood cancer. Not being the sort of person to take that sort of shit lying down, Al launched an appeal for donors. mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/al-…

He got loads of new people to sign up to the stem cell register - a simple mouth swab is all it takes, you go in a database, and if you're a match you'll get a call. The tiniest cells in your body can save the life of someone dying because of the tiniest cells in theirs. /6

Finley is going through his treatment still, and his family are enduring the constant ups and downs of a deadly illness in a loved one. It must be like being flayed alive. All those who signed up to Al's drive for donors are, potentially, helping a family like that. /7

But there are still so many kiddies who need a hand. You're a grown-up, you can do this. I tried to join the register but, as an epileptic, I'm ruled out. RAGING, of course, but as a result this is the best I can do. /8

Please, join @almurray's drive to help all the children like Gilly, Wayne and Finley. Give their parents the comfort of knowing there are people who want to help. And donate whatever you can here - gofundme.com/f/almurraysblo… - to help @DKMS_uk with all they do. /ends

PS here's a clue how common it is - I wrote about Wayne, and thought I didn't know anyone who'd been affected by childhood cancer. Then I found out months later his family are in-laws of a mate of mine. This pain is everywhere, if you look.