A BRAVE young boy from Malvern who battled leukaemia is leading calls for people across the region to clear out their wardrobes for charity.

Six year-old Harvey Bruce, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2017 when he was just four years-old, is encouraging people to donate their unwanted clothes, accessories and homeware to their nearest TK Maxx store as part of the Give Up Clothes For Good campaign.

Harvey’s only symptom before being diagnosed was a lump by his left eye that doctors initially thought was a blocked tear duct.

But when Harvey began to complain of headaches and the lump became so big it was pushing on his glasses, Harvey’s parents, Matt Brace and Charlotte Haynes, grew increasingly worried.

The youngster was referred to an eye consultant who suspected eye cancer.

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After a biopsy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Harvey was diagnosed with AML and chemotherapy began immediately.

Charlotte, Harvey's mum, said: "Within days of starting chemotherapy, the lump on his eye started to go down.

"The treatment lasted for six months and it was hard going – Harvey got sepsis at one point and we were worried we were going to lose him.

"One of the drugs he was treated with was sensitive to light so he had to have some of his treatment in darkness, but Harvey kept smiling despite everything.

"Children are really amazing in the way they deal with things, Harvey loves being a superhero and the Incredible Hulk is his favourite.

"He was still charging up and down the ward dressed as a superhero even in the thick of treatment.

"To watch him, you would have thought he really did have special powers."

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Harvey took part in a clinical trial called MyeChild01 which is supported by Cancer Research UK.

In January 2018 Harvey’s cancer was declared to be in remission. He is now fit and well and enjoys going to school, but still has hospital visits every six months.

Jane Redman, from Cancer Research UK, said: "More children and young people than ever are surviving cancer, but there’s still so much more to do.

"Cancer in children and young people is different from cancer in adults – from the types of cancer to the impact of treatment and the long-term side effects survivors often experience.

"So, it needs different, dedicated research which campaigns like Give Up Clothes For Good help to fund.

"Cancer still claims the lives of around 500 under-25s in the UK every year, we want to help more children and young people in Worcestershire, and across the UK, survive cancer with a good quality of life.

"That’s why we hope as many people as possible will show their support and donate any quality clothes or goods to their local TK Maxx store. Unwanted items really could save lives."

TK Maxx is the biggest corporate supporter of Cancer Research UK’s work into children’s and young people’s cancers.

Give Up Clothes For Good is one of the UK’s longest running clothes collection campaigns.

People can donate at any TK Maxx store, all year round, including TK Maxx in High Street, Worcester.