Young Jude beats health problems with a little help from his Leeds United heroes

The Premier League club, specifically their captain Liam Cooper, have always been there to support the ten-year-old Elland Road season ticket holder in his fight for health.

They have been “marching on together” with the Thorpe Hesley family who, after a newly-developed trial treatment, have nursed Jude back to health following his diagnosis of leukaemia.

And the Hawkridges, mum Jo, dad Jim, Jude and big sister Lily, are now dedicating much of their lives to fundraising for others.

They are hoping to have harvested some £130,000 by the end of this year, doing their bit to help young cancer sufferers across this country and even deprived families struggling to feed themselves in the Himalayas.

They are not short of supporters — friends, family...and Scotland international Cooper, who regards Jude as “my mate”.

The connection was formed three years ago after Jude was diagnosed.

While the family were “at the lowest of the low”, mum Jo said, fundraising gave them something else to focus on as Jude battled with his illness.

He received bone marrow from Lily and was later fortunate enough to be one of a handful of youngsters to have been granted cutting-edge CAR-T therapy trials, to kill off acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

After a long spell in hospital following the trials, Jude returned to Thorpe Hesley Primary School a year ago and has been a normal, healthy boy ever since.

Jo, a former self-employed dog groomer, and Jim, a director in the bakery industry, are overjoyed and said they were keen to put something back into the health programme.

Their son had been one of the lucky ones as not every child qualifies for the treatment Jude received.

The family is backing a campaign by the charity Cure Leukaemia, which encourages the football community to raise £10 million in the battle against childhood blood cancer.

Gary Lineker is among the celebrity backers for that mission — but Leeds season ticket holder Jude has his own hero in the form of centre-back Cooper.

Jude had first met the Leeds star when both were invited to appear on the Soccer Saturday TV programme.

Jo (48) recalled: “Liam has been amazing for Jude from the start.

“He has met him a few times, sent him gifts like boots and a shirt and invited him to his own (academy) camp and let Jude train with him.

“He has made such a difference and has kept in touch, all the way through. He has done loads, he is a lovely guy.”

Away from the Premier League glamour, it has been business as usual for busy siblings Jude and Lily.

Both have recently embarked on a sponsored, rubbish collection in their neighbourhood — something they will be doing three hours a week over three months.

Some of the money raised will go towards the establishment of leukaemia trial centres around the UK.

Lily, a pupil at Winterhill School, Kimberworth, is also raising cash for remote communities in Nepal — and plans to visit there in July next year.

Jo said charity endeavours were now part of their daily lives and estimated they had already raised £80,000 towards this year’s target of £130,000.

During the time of the Covid lockdown, and after, they had raised money to help renovate Sheffield Children’s Hospital and then started to help Manchester’s equivalent where key research is carried out.

Jim (48) has taken on the Three Peaks Challenge, which Jude wants to do later this year, and Jo has been sky diving.

Planned fundraising events include a football tournament in June at Greasbrough Youth FC, where Lily works in the cafe to raise more cash, and Jo will be cycling from Liverpool to Leeds along the canal.

“Family and friends have done some crazy things,” said Jo, a former student at Brinsworth Comprehensive, who lives in Upper Wortley Road.

“I have a friend who wants to run 150 miles.

“Prof Rob Wynn, consultant paediatric haematologist and director of the Paediatric Bone Marrow Transplant Programme, is so passionate about research trials he is raising money by cycling the Tour de France.”

Jo said she had been thrilled by all the effort put in by supporters.

“Jude’s primary school has been phenomenal, they’ve done loads for us,” she said.

“Lots of people have raised money for #TeamJude.”

The mum is “super proud” of her children’s efforts and how their youthful characters have developed over trying times.

She said: “Jude is like a little old man, really — he’s ahead of his years, likes football, his mates.

“He’s very funny, dry but very clever as well.

“He has always been switched on.

“After his treatment, he’s back at school playing with his mates, doing what kids should be doing.

“Lily has had to grow up quickly as I wasn’t around for a long time when Jude was having treatment.

“And even when I was at home, I was scared (for Jude) and my head was not in the right place.

“Lily was without me for quite a long time and had to grow up; now she’s a mature, lovely young, lady.”

Jo added that she and Jim would continue to help fund the spread of trials centres.

“These trials are ready to go but money is not there to fund them,” she said.

“And there are more trials available for adults rather than for children, which I don’t understand that.

“Kids get so ill and parents rely on doctors and nurses who want to carry out the trials, but when there is no funding, it breaks your heart.”

If you want to support #TeamJude visit https://tinyurl.com/TeamJudeSCH.

* LEEDS defender Liam Cooper told how the youngster had inspired him with his fighting spirit.

The United stopper said that when he had first met Jude, the youngster was struggling with the effects of leukaemia.

“I told him when he was healthy and when you’re right and when you beat this, we’ll get you down to Elland Road and get you around the players and have a day out at Thorp Arch (Leeds’ training ground) — and we were able to do that,” he said.

“A promise is a promise.”

Liam said the Hawkridges were a “wonderful family” and Jude a “young boy who has done nothing but fight”.

He said he “looked up” to Jude, who had played “a massive part in my life”.