Ethan takes the plunge to help raise funds for young Phoebe

Ethan McDonald, 13, decided he wanted to support 20-month-old Phoebe Ashfield, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia more than a year ago.

Young Phoebe, who lives in Gornal, relapsed in June and September last year, before undergoing CAR-T cell therapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital, which proved successful for a few months.

But in January, the family received news that it was not successful and the only chance they had was a bone marrow transplant.

Phoebe’s parents Emma Wyke and Jordan Ashfield are not full matches.

After hearing her story, Ethan, who goes to St James Academy, in Dudley, decided he wanted to help her – but was devastated to learn he was too young to swabbed to see if he was a bone marrow transplant match.

Instead, he decided to take on a half-mile sponsored swim at Bilston Swimming Baths on Saturday and has already raised more than £800 – with donations still rolling in.

Ethan's dad, Paul McDonald, said: "Ethan was really upset when he found out he could not be a donor for Phoebe, as he was under age.

“He was determined to do something to help. He wanted to be a donor, but he spoke to his grandad, Malcolm, and he decided he wanted to do a sponsored swim.

“He really enjoyed his swim. He worked really hard and he managed quicker than he thought he would. The swim was half a mile.

"He's raised over £800 to support Phoebe so far, and people are still putting money towards it.

"We are very proud of him."

Phoebe recently received some good news as she received an umbilical cord transplant match.

Her mother, Emma, added: "As Ethan was under 17 years, he could not do a swab test to see if he was a potential donor match - so he decided to do a sponsored swim for Phoebe.

"It is a shame that not all young people are like Ethan and want to help other people.

"Phoebe has been having a lot of chemotherapy recently, but we recently found she has an umbilical chord transplant match."