THE mum of a young boy has told of his brave battle with leukaemia and the family's delight as he was given the all-clear.

Six-year-old Rayaan Zafran, from Burnley, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2016 when he was just two years old.

The first sign that something was wrong emerged when his nursery teacher had noticed he wanted to be by himself and was lying down a lot. Then his mum noticed he had a swollen stomach.

At A&E, Rayaan started to develop red marks on his legs and the doctors initially thought he might have meningitis. But following tests Aneesa was given the devastating news that he had cancer.

Rayaan had to celebrate his third birthday in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital – and has undergone intense chemotherapy treatment as well as bone marrow transplants and lumbar punctures with drugs administered via his spine under anaesthetic.

Due to the intense chemotherapy Rayaan had less strength in his legs and it meant he could not walk for a while which was really hard for him. He also lost all of his hair.

And due to so many steroids being pumped in his body as part of his treatment, he was also very moody and short tempered.

So Rayaan and his mum were thrilled when he was given the all-clear from cancer over the summer. He is now enjoying life in Year Two of Barden Primary School, in Burnley, with his friends.

His mum Aneesa, aged 26, who works in Darwen, said: “When the doctor said, I am really sorry to tell you, but we think Rayaan has leukaemia.

“I was in denial and total shock as I was unaware of what leukaemia was.

“You hear about it, but you never really know what it is until your family is impacted by it. During Rayaan’s treatment he had to have a feeding tube fitted as well as a Hickman line to administer the chemotherapy drugs.

“However, he was always very brave and kept on smiling throughout the darkest of days. I was absolutely over the moon when Rayaan was finally given the all-clear over the summer.”

Now during this September - which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month - the pair have urged people to clear out their wardrobes to help save more lives like Rayaan’s.

They are supporting TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes For Good campaign, in support of Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People.

Rayaan and his family are encouraging the public to help more children and young people survive cancer by donating any pre-loved quality clothing, accessories and homeware they no longer need to their nearest TK Maxx store.

Aneesa added: “It’s thanks to research that Rayaan is here today. That’s why raising money for Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People is so important.

“Rayaan and I will be having a good clear out at home and finding clothes and items to donate to our local TK Maxx store.

“I hope everyone in Lancashire will get behind this vitally important campaign and turn something they no longer need into funds for such a fantastic cause.”

For more information on the campaign visit cruk.org/childrenandyoungpeople or tkmaxx.com.