Brave Daniel dies in mother's arms

A courageous Stafford schoolboy who battled a rare form of cancer all his life has died.

Daniel Martinez died in his mother's arms on Saturday at the family home in Silkmore Lane, just five weeks before his sixth birthday.

Daniel was struck down with neuroblastoma, an aggressive cancer which attacks the nervous system, when he was six months old.

His parents Annette and Edward were told he only had a 20 per cent chance of living beyond his fifth birthday.

They launched a fundraising appeal to take the youngster to New York for specialist antibody therapy, in a bid to increase his life expectancy.

But, after initially believing the treatment would cost £20,000, the family was dealt a devastating blow when they were told it would cost £300,000.

The £16,500 they had raised has since been donated to research into the disease and the children's charity Dreams Come True. In 2006 Daniel, who has three sisters and two brothers, started school at Silkmore Primary.

Last November the cancer flared up again and further chemotherapy followed, but two weeks ago scans revealed another two tumours.

His heartbroken mother, Annette, said the youngster died in her arms.

She said: "From last Thursday to Saturday, he was really poorly. It was nice to let him go."

Silkmore Primary School headteacher Julie Mowbray said pupils and staff were "reeling" from news of Daniel's death.

Daniel's class teaching assistant, Heather Murcott, said: "He was so lovely. He would come over and rabbit to you about anything and everything – a mischievous little tinker."

Stafford MP David Kidney helped Mrs Martinez with her fundraising campaign. He said today: "I met Daniel several times and he was a lovely, brave little lad."

Daniel's funeral service will be held at St Peter's Church, in Rickerscote, at 2.15pm tomorrow, followed by cremation at Stafford Crematorium.

Mrs Martinez is asking people to make a donation to the Neuroblasta Society or ward 10 at the University of North Staffordshire, in lieu of flowers.