HE IS thought to be one of the youngest people in the world to have been diagnosed with testicular cancer but a brave Popley youngster is now celebrating after being given the all clear by doctors.

As previously reported by The Gazette, brave Jack Bristow, of Selby Walk, Popley, faced the battle of his life with a disease that usually affects men three or four times his age, following his diagnosis when he was nine-years-old.

Jack was diagnosed with Seminomas, a testicular cancer germ cell tumour, on December 9 last year, and in the months since then he has had his right testicle removed and has undergone gruelling chemotherapy treatment at Southampton General Hospital's Piam Brown ward.

The family, which includes parents Joanne and Dan, and younger brother Alfie, have since embarked on a fundraising campaign to pull in the pounds for the ward as a show of their appreciation.

And the family got the news they were hoping for last Wednesday when Jack was told that he is now cancer-free by doctors at the hospital following his five-month battle.

Proud mum Joanne, who is known as Joe, told The Gazette that the news is "amazing" but it still hasn't sunk in that their 10-year-old fighter is now cancer-free.

Jack has now been told he is in remission for the next five years and he will still have to undergo blood tests and x-rays every three months as he enters puberty as this is a crucial stage for him.

She said: "It seems really horrible but I was numb and I didn't react. It was not until I left the hospital and started phoning people that it hit me. I pretty much cried all the way home.

"Jack was over the moon and I can't describe the look on his face. He has picked up a lot (since his treatment) and has started Ju Jitsu.

"We are so proud of him and his hair is starting to grow back and there are no bald patches now so he is really excited about that."

And the family has been "overwhelmed" by the support shown to them by people across Basingstoke and hope to get back to some form of normality, with Joe adding: "When people have been asking if we want to do something, we have been saying that we need to wait to see how Jack is and now we can say yes.

"It has been really overwhelming and we can't thank the public enough and there are not enough words to describe the doctors and nurses - they have been amazing.

"We are going to keep the fundraising page going. What we have raised so far isn't even enough for one person's treatment."

To donate to the appeal, visit www.justgiving.com/Joanne-Bristow/2.

A family day of live music will take place at the Camrose Clubhouse, at the Soccer AM Stadium, in Western Way on May 23.

In addition to the live music from a range of local acts, a bouncy castle and a burger van will also be at the event which runs from 4pm to 11.30pm.