Cora Beecroft was a "happy, bright and cheerful" little girl who loved pre-school, days out at the dinosaur park and trips to the beach.
But in the summer of 2022 her parents James and Cassie Beecroft, from North Walsham, noticed their three-year-old daughter wasn’t herself.
She was tired and run-down, taking more naps than usual.
One day Cora was sick at pre-school so the concerned parents rushed her to the doctors for an emergency appointment.
Just two hours later they were given the news every parent dreads.
Cora was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Blood tests had revealed she had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a rare cancer most often diagnosed in younger people.
“As parents you go into a state of shock,” Mrs Beecroft said.
“It was during the heatwave that summer, so I thought her tiredness could’ve been due to the heat, or something she had picked up at pre-school.”
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An ambulance took her to Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge, where she started her cancer treatment.
Now, after going through chemotherapy four-year-old Cora is on the mend – entering the maintenance phase of her treatment.
Her family have been with her every step of the way – but Cora’s older brother James wanted to go one step further.
James, 11, alongside his friends from North Walsham High School Tommy Clarke, Jake Bracey, and Aman Twinklemon, have raised almost £700 for Young Lives vs Cancer by doing a sponsored park run.
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The boys, who all play football together for North Walsham Town Football Club U12s Angels, ran the North Walsham Parkrun at the high school last Saturday (January 27).
They were also running for Tommy’s friend Jaylen, who is in the early stages of his treatment.
“Cora has been an absolute superstar,” Mrs Beecroft said.
“The whole community has really come together to help the boys raise the money.
“I’m so proud of them all.
“Thank you to everyone who supported them.”
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