Leeds academy star gets Cancer all clear

Correspondent

Leeds Rhinos have been given the fantastic news that young Academy player James Brook has been given the all clear following treatment for a rare form of facial cancer.

James, who attends Temple Moor High School in Leeds, was diagnosed in December 2011 with Rhabdomyosarcoma.

The original announcement sparked a huge fundraising effort by the RFL Benevolent Fund, Leeds Rhinos and James’ amateur club Oulton Raiders.

His treatment was very specialist with the NHS sending him to Jacksonville in the USA for 10 weeks of intensive Proton therapy.

However, James’ father Carl contacted Head of Youth Development Barrie McDermott with the news that we had all been hoping for. He told us, “James’ consultant told us that his scans are all clear and the treatment has been a success. He will now have scans every three months for the first year and getting less frequent over the following five years as he continues his remission.

“On behalf of the whole family, we would to thank everyone for their support for James and our entire family through an incredibly tough time. In particular the NHS, the Rugby League Benevolent Fund, Leeds Rhinos and Oulton Raiders have been fantastic and it would be impossible to thank everyone by name because so many people came to the aid of our family. At first it was uncomfortable to have to ask for help but it is only afterwards that you realise there is no way we could have done it on our own.

“James is now looking forward to getting on with his life and we will see where that takes him from here. We intend to have a big party after the summer so we can thank as many people as possible personally for everything they have done for us,” added Carl Brook.