Parents of brave tot are grateful for mass support

And one of the donations has come all the way from the Philippines, after the kind-hearted donor read about Jack Gray’s ordeal in the Gazette.

The one-year-old, from Alnwick, suffers from tuberous sclerosis complex. It causes mainly non-cancerous tumours to develop in different parts of the body, most often affecting the brain, skin, kidneys, heart, eyes and lungs.

Earlier this month, we reported how his parents, Ian and Sarah, had been invited to the House of Parliament for a special tea party, to recognise the fund-raising efforts of the family and friends towards the Tuberous Sclerosis Association (TSA).

And since our article, more money has come in. Alnwick Rugby Club recently held an auction, giving away a signed Lions shirt, as well as a cake sale and raffle. They also grew their facial hair for Movember. Their efforts raised £5,000, with £3,000 for TSA and the rest to be split between the Newcastle RVI children’s ward and Parkinson’s UK.

The donor from the Philippines was outbid on the shirt, so made a donation, believed to be a few hundred pounds.

Sarah said: “We are overwhelmed by people’s generosity. Since the Gazette story, we have received kind messages, letters and donations.”