A CHARITY helping an eight-year-old boy fight leukaemia has left its mark on his grateful dad.

Eddie Wilson, 40, was so moved by the care which childhood cancer charity Candlelighters gave his son Ethan, he decided to get a tattoo of the charity logo on his forearm as a permanent reminder of their help.

Ethan of Colne Road, Earby, was diagnosed in October with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a fast-growing cancer of the blood, after the glands in his neck enlarged and his foot had swollen.

Eddie decided to have the 12cm tattoo after his wife Lisa, 30, had her head shaved to raise money for the charity.

The charity raises money to support work and research at the Leeds General Infirmary where Ethan is being treated and has provided funding to cover the cost of transportation to hospital appointments.

Family friend Rachel Hirst also got a tattoo of the charity’s logo and the family has hosted a raffle, tombola, cake sale and treasure hunt to raise more cash.

Sponsorship from having the tattoo has raised £500 for Candlelighters, making a total of £1,900 raised so far.

Eddie, a bus driver with Skipton-based Pennine Motors, said: “I really wanted to do something for the charity.

“Lisa had her head shaved but as I don’t really have any hair anyway, I decided to get a tattoo instead! I have five tattoos already but this one was the most painful. Ethan thinks the tattoo is pretty cool.”

Ethan, who attends Springfield Primary School, is now on the fourth and most intensive stage of his treatment which involves having regular lumbar punctures, antibiotics and chemotherapy.

He faces a programme of treatment which could last three years.

Lisa said: “After this course of treatment we are hoping he will be in the maintenance stage where he will need monthly chemotherapy.

“He has no immune system at the moment so he has to be very careful not to pick up infections. At the moment he’s been doing really well and the doctors are pleased that the treatment is working, but this lot of treatment is very intense and he’s looking quite pale and is very tired.

“Hopefully when this treatment is done, he will be through the worst of it.”