This September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The Surrey-based children's charity, Momentum, supports families who have had a child who has been diagnosed with cancer or a life-challenging condition. The hospitals Momentum works with in London are Kingston Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Seven-year-old Afonso Casanova, is preparing to start a new school year, six weeks after finishing his treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL).

Afonso is very much looking forward to starting a new term at Anglo Portuguese School of London to 'learn more maths!'. (Photo: Momentum)

As the summer holidays come to an end, many children are preparing for the new academic year, but for families like the Casanova's, who have received a cancer diagnosis, there is a lot more to consider.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Afonso's mum, Susana Casanova, is shining a light on her son's condition, and helping to raise awareness of Momentum Children's Charity, who have supported the family during some of their most difficult times.

Talking about Afonso's diagnosis, Susana said: "Afonso was diagnosed in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was only three years old. Just before receiving Afonso's diagnosis, I could tell it was going to be bad news as they'd allowed my husband and other son, Gabriel, to come in from the car park at Kingston Hospital.

"As soon as they told us it was leukaemia, I remember becoming desperate – my instant thought was that Afonso was going to die."

Susana continued: "Thankfully, the leukaemia had been caught early. Afonso's treatment started immediately, with a blood transfusion and antibiotics. It was a whirlwind – I'd not had a chance to process anything and suddenly I had a child with cancer.

"Afonso responded well, and thankfully after six weeks, he was in remission. His treatment has lasted three years, and I am so happy that we have finally reached the end. We feel lucky and are aware that the outcome is very different for many other families."

Talking about Momentum Children's Charity, Susana said: "Momentum has been a warm source of support for us since day one when I received a bag of toiletries from them to use while I was staying in hospital with Afonso. In the coming days, we were assigned a Momentum Family Support Worker.

"We were in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, so we had to meet outside in the hospital carpark, but it was comforting to know Momentum was there for us at the end of the phone or email if we needed anything."

Momentum Children's Charity supports families during some of their most difficult times. (Photo: Momentum)

Talking about Afonso starting a new school year, Susana Casanova said: "I was very concerned when Afonso was starting primary school in Reception three years ago - I wanted him to have a 'normal' experience at the beginning of his school journey. I was also worried when Afonso moved schools last year.

"However, the community team were great in both cases, helping teachers, staff and pupils to understand Afonso's condition. Now Afonso has completed his treatment, I don't feel worried about him going back to school, I am excited for him. Afonso is very much looking forward to starting a new term at Anglo Portuguese School of London to 'learn more maths!'"

Bianca Effemey, Founder and CEO at Momentum Children's Charity said: "We'd like to wish Afonso the best of luck as he embarks on his new school year.

"Every year, more than 1800 families in the UK receive the devasting news that their child has cancer. This Childhood Cancer Awareness Month we want to remind people that we are partnered with hospitals in London to offer support to any family who has a child with cancer or another life-challenging condition. Our services include offering emotional support, helping with grant applications, and arranging respite breaks."

To find out more about the work of Momentum Children's Charity, please visit www.momentumcharity.org