This is Harry’s story. Harry is 15 and on Boxing Day 2013, he was diagnosed with adult carcinoma. Unfortunately, the doctors cannot find the source of the primary cancer. As a result of the cancer in the tissues that line the surfaces in his body, Harry suffers with pain in his legs and feet on a regular basis.

Harrys Story

Harry receives massage therapy 2 to 3 times a week from Gemma to help with the pain. Harry says ‘It’s nice when she massages because her hands are always nice and warm at the time…well, most of the time, I’d say. Well I quite like it when she massages my feet and legs, you know. With a mischievous smile that meets his eyes, he goes on to say how much he likes it when ‘she goes and has a glass of wine and enjoys it now and then’.

Harry’s Mum, Jessica speaks of Harry’s anxiety and how relaxing Harry finds the massage therapy given to him by Gemma. ‘He’s autistic’, she says ‘and his anxiety levels are always the thing we’ve had to really work hard on and he relaxes. He relaxes with Gemma and he gets ready before she arrives and puts on his special trousers that roll up. It’s that little bit easier with the charity here’.

She is amazed by how dedicated Gemma is and speaks of her hopes for the therapy being used in conjunction with traditional medicine. She says ‘What’s amazing…I mean, she comes at ridiculous times, you know. She comes on a Sunday evening sometimes and she comes on a Tuesday night. I think it’s extraordinary’.

You offer this type of…I don’t know if it’s called complimentary therapy, alongside the traditional medicine and the two together can hopefully keep someone physically stronger but emotionally intact.