WHEN Glasgow schoolboy Alexander Stephen complained to his mum and dad about pains in his legs and back, it seemed likely he had a sporting injury.

The nine-year-old, who lives in the West End, is a talented footballer, a keen runner and swimmer, and he loves playing shinty.

However, the pain got so intense, he couldn’t sleep and his parents took him to hospital. Tests revealed there was a mass pressing on the young boy’s spinal cord and doctors explained there was a risk of paralysis unless they operated within days.

On Tuesday, May 9, Alexander had surgery to remove the tumour.

Glasgow Times: Alexander loves football, running, swimming and shintyAlexander loves football, running, swimming and shinty (Image: Mark Anderson)

His mum, Katherine McElroy, said: “It all happened very quickly. It felt like I cried a million tears.

“Alexander just wanted the pain to go. For most of the nine and a half hours he was in surgery, I walked the corridors with his squishy Star Wars Yoda toy in my arms.

“It was a long, complex, delicate operation on my sporty boy. I was too upset to talk to anyone. That evening, when the surgeon told us the operation had been successful it was a relief. The medical team were amazing and I can’t thank them enough.”

A week later, doctors confirmed that Alexander had Ewing sarcoma, a rare type of cancer found in the bone and soft tissue, and he started months of chemotherapy treatment at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow.

Glasgow Times: Alexander and his family before his cancer diagnosisAlexander and his family before his cancer diagnosis (Image: Mark Anderson)

A side effect of the treatment meant he lost his blonde hair. He missed his friends at Glasgow’s Gaelic School, at Shettleston Harriers, and the Glasgow Boca football team. He kept busy in hospital by playing computer games online with his pals, and planning a family trip to Japan he’s still determined to go on - with mum Katherine and dad Alasdair, and sisters Mairi, 13, and Eilidh, 11 - when he is better.

He is also backing TK Maxx’s Give Up Clothes for Good campaign, in support of Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People.

It’s part of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September and Alexander and his family are encouraging people to donate any pre-loved quality fashion and homeware they no longer need to their nearest TK Maxx store.

When sold in Cancer Research UK shops, each bag of items donated could be worth up to £25 to help support research. Alexander is one of around 320 young people who are diagnosed with cancer in Scotland every year.

Glasgow Times: Alexander with his mum, KatherineAlexander with his mum, Katherine (Image: Mark Anderson)

Alexander said: “I’d really like to help children who have cancer so I hope everyone across Scotland will get behind this campaign.

“I’m having treatment for cancer so I can get back to doing all the sports and fun things that I love. I can’t play any sports at the moment and I miss it. I miss my school friends too. I like the idea that having a good clear out at home to find clothes and unwanted items could help children.”

Alexander starts six weeks of proton beam therapy at the NHS centre at The Christie in Manchester in November. This type of radiotherapy can minimise side effects for patients by reducing damage to developing or sensitive organs.

His mum says she is “so proud” of her son.

“Alexander is a boy who asks a lot of questions,” she says. “I told him he had cancer but that once you know what you’re dealing with you get a plan together and work through it.

“I feel sad that cancer forced him to grow up a lot but I am full of admiration for how he has approached everything.”

It has been hard on the whole family, adds Katherine.

“Of course his sisters are worried, I’m glad they keep it real at home," she says, smiling. "They fight with him, like any siblings do, over who gets the biggest slice of cake.

"We’ll tackle this together as a family. Moments all together as a family are precious.”