A week later, Euan’s mum Kellie got a phone call from school to say that he was holding his arm in an unusual way. Kellie took him back to hospital expecting it to be a minor problem with his collar-bone, but another x-ray revealed a 5 ½ inch tumour.

Euan was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma (which the family came to call Euan’s Sarcoma), an aggressive form of bone cancer. His consultant gave him six weeks to live.

First came intensive chemotherapy, which caused Euan's hair, eyebrows, eye lashes, finger nails and toe nails to fall out. Then it was decided that the only way to ensure his long-term survival would be to amputate his arm. For Kellie that conversation was the hardest she’s ever had. Euan was puzzled and distressed. How could any five-year-old understand such a traumatic situation?

After the operation, it took Euan an enormous amount of readjustment. He kept reaching for things with his right hand, but it wasn’t there to use. He could feel his hand still there, had phantom pains and was very self-conscious. Further operations were needed to remove nerve endings which continued to grow causing even more severe pain.

With two babies 20 months apart and Euan not sleeping, Kellie felt helpless. But then the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity stepped in.

With funding from BBC Children in Need they provided Ben, a Family Support Worker. When Euan was in hospital, Ben came every day to play chess and keep him company. Ben also took him on trips to the Manchester Museum in his wheelchair and made sure mum had a break. It was a relief to Kellie to know that someone was there with him, meaning she could sleep and look after the two baby girls. And Rainbow Trust has remained that constant, unfailing, practical support ever since. Day-to-day life would have been impossible without them, she says.

Now 15, Euan is through the worst. He’s managed to catch up at school, and has just been awarded an A in his Geology GCSE which he took a year early. He’s passionate about rocks and fossils and is determined to become a palaeontologist.

Euan is now out of his wheelchair and the weekly hospital visits are nearly over. He told his family to clear their diaries as he can’t wait to be spending more time with them!

Two children who have benefited from the BBC Children in Need funding are 9-year-old twins Bobby and Alec, who both have autism. Their improvement has been remarkable and in the three years they've been attending the GMRDA, the twins' confidence co-ordination and balance has noticeably approved.

Because riding a horse is unstable, it improves riders' core muscles and balance - and their Mum Debby says that to see the boys riding is brilliant.

It's also helped Alec to overcome the serious injuries he sustained when he crawled through a bedroom window when he was just two years old, falling twenty feet to the ground. He was in a coma for six weeks, and when he woke up he couldn't move.

Debby added: "It was like the slate was wiped clean. He had to re-learn everything as well as deal with autism. Both the volunteers and horses at GMRDA are unbelievably patient and caring. We are so lucky to have an affordable therapy like this on our doorstep that gives both our sons loads of fun as well as helping them therapeutically. They do a fantastic job."

Another project that's just received a grant from BBC Children in Need is Autistic Society Greater Manchester. They've been awarded a three year grant of £110,013 to run youth clubs during the school holidays to provide inclusive activities for children and young people with autism.

We're only able to support amazing projects like these thanks to the generosity of the British public. On their behalf - thank you.

Who You Help: other projects in the North of England

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