A FAMILY celebration will mark a little boy’s return to health after three years of gruelling cancer treatment.

Six-year-old Accrington boy Rieli Biggins has finished intensive chemotherapy after being diagnosed with leukaemia.

The youngster lost his hair and had to suffer side effects such as mood swings from powerful steroids while battling the condition.

Doctors say there is now no sign of the cancer and are optimistic about his future, though there is the chance it could return.

His family are marking the end of his treatment with a gathering for friends and family to raise money for paediatric care at Manchester Children’s Hospital.

Parents Jade Flood and Lee Biggins from Accrington say their son is now ‘cheeky, healthy and happy’ like any other six-year-old.

Rieli is said to be doing well at Peel Park Primary School and has learned to ride his bike after gradually regaining his health towards the end of his treatments.

Rieli was diagnosed in May 2008 after his parents and staff at the Cambridge Street Nursery, noticed he was becoming very quiet, tired and withdrawn. Now family and friends are to gather on Sunday at the Poplar Club in Accrington for the celebration with donations instead of presents.

Mum Jade said: “He is fine, absolutely fine. We have one more meeting with doctors, but they have been very positive thorughout. When he started he was very poorly. The treatments were rough on him and the mood swings were terrible.

“He battled on though and we saw gradual improvements in his health all the way through.”

“When his hair started growing back we noticed he had more energy.

"He had always wanted to ride his bike, but hadn’t been up to it.

“Now he can do that, like any other little boy”.