Sporty boy, 9, receives shock cancer diagnosis but parents praise ‘power of community’ as online fundraiser hits £20,000

A sporty nine-year-old described as the “epitome of health” received a shock cancer diagnosis but his parents have praised the “power of community” as their online fundraiser hit £20,000.

Sammy Balmforth, who lives in Biddulph, Staffordshire, with his parents, Barney, 44, and Nicki, 42, and two siblings, Harrison, eight, and Charlotte, two, was “born with a rugby ball in his hand” and has been kickboxing since he was four.

But in June 2024 his health initially took a turn when “massive lumps” appeared under Sammy’s skin, bruises would form just “from holding his hand” and he suffered with a “massive” nose bleed which forced him to hospital.

Sammy was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition affecting his blood but after being treated with a heavy dose of steroids, first in June and then October, he appeared to be back to his old self.

The diagnosis has been a shock to Sammy’s parents but they have praised their “strong” son for remaining “positive” and dealing with his chemotherapy treatment “very well”.

Sammy’s father Barney served with the British Armed Forces for 11 years from 1996, where his actions in Iraq in 2004 saw him receive the Military Cross for bravery which was presented by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

“Sammy can do 100 burpees and it doesn’t seem to faze him, he can do press-ups like no one’s business,” Barney, who now works in financial services, told PA Real Life.

“I keep saying this will be his origin story before he becomes a superhero.

Nicki, a qualified driving instructor, added: “He’s the epitome of health.

“He’s so strong but it’s also made it quite shocking because we weren’t expecting this.”

Sammy has enjoyed playing sports throughout his childhood and was described by his mother as “a fit, healthy, energetic, sporty, strong little boy”.

But in June 2024, Nicki said he began to experience some strange health issues.

“He had a pinprick rash all over his body, he was coming out in bruises and lumps under his skin literally just from touching him,” she said.

“Even from holding his hand, he was coming out in massive bruises.”

On June 5, Sammy suffered with a “massive nose bleed”, leading his doctors to put him on a dose of steroids to boost his platelet count.

His condition appeared to be improving when in October, the rash returned to his body.

“He had bleeding gums when he was brushing his teeth, he had a nose bleed,” Nicki added.

He underwent a series of blood tests but the results came back as normal and Sammy was treated with another dose of steroids.

It appeared the treatment helped Sammy get back to his old self, according to his parents, and he continued receiving regular blood tests to monitor his condition.

However, a set of results from January this year came back positive for leukaemia – and Sammy’s consultant informed the family he could have acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) on January 24.

“It’s happened really quickly,” Barney said.

Nicki added: “This is the kind of thing that happens to other people, it’s the kind of thing you read about on the news, something you donate to after seeing a fundraiser.

“You never think it will happen to you and now it has.”

He has now started a weekly course of chemotherapy and it is estimated he will spend the next two years undergoing various forms of treatment.

“The hardest part is being able to answer Sammy’s questions, we’re trying to work it all out and explain it to him as well,” Barney said.

Despite the challenges ahead, Nicki said Sammy is “positive” and dealing with his diagnosis “very well”.

Barney’s fellow army comrade, Ross, launched a GoFundMe page to help support the family upon the news of Sammy’s diagnosis, raising over £22,500 so far.

“To have such generous and kind and lovely people around us is completely humbling,” Nicki said.

Sammy has received messages of support from high-profile rugby players, such as Ollie Lawrence, Finn Russell and Mark Wilson.

The family have also been supported by Barney’s former comrades and the wider “army family”, as well as Sammy’s friends at his rugby and kickboxing clubs.

“Friends, family and community is so important,” Barney said.

“We are very lucky to have help from my military family, rugby family, kickboxing family and even my work family helping and supporting us.”

To find out more, visit the fundraiser for Sammy and his family here: gofundme.com/f/veteran-war-hero-cpl-balmforths-9-year-old-son-samuel