Officers raise £1,000 for five-year-old with cancer

A TEAM of Essex Police officers have raised £1,000 through a work tuck shop to help a five-year-old girl continue her battle against cancer.

PC Rob Barlow, from the Operation Support Group (OSG), based at Boreham, came up with the idea a year ago after hearing about his daughter’s friend Sienna Riley.

Sienna, who is from Braintree, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of cancer of the nerve cells, in November 2012.

She was also diagnosed with a rare form of heart disease called cardiomyopathy.

After three years of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other specialist treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital, Sienna is now in remission, but relapse rates for neuroblastoma are high.

Her parents are preparing for the possibility that she may need specialist treatment abroad costing more than £250,000.

“Sienna is now back at school and doing well but we know that can change suddenly,” said Sienna’s father Darren. “The relapse rate for neuroblastoma is incredibly high so we are doing all we can to prepare for the future. There is only so much treatment available in the UK so there’s every chance we may need to take Sienna overseas for specialist treatment if the cancer returns.”

He added that the chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also have affected Sienna’s ovaries, meaning there is a chance that she may need fertility treatment if she chooses to start a family years down the line.

“As Sienna’s parents we need to give her the best treatment available. Every penny counts and we’re so grateful to everyone at Essex Police who has donated money,” he said.

PC Barlow said: “As a parent I can’t begin to imagine what Sienna’s family has been through. I’m so pleased Sienna is doing well and hope the money raised will help her get the best possible treatment should she need it at any point in her future.”