A STRUGGLE for survival proved inspirational for a mother who hopes to raise £1 million for charity with a book about her son’s battle with cancer.

At six months old, doctors discovered Ramsbottom youngster Elliot Burch had a tumour the size of a small rugby ball inside his tiny body.

He was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour, a type of kidney cancer, and underwent chemotherapy and gruelling surgery to remove one of his kidneys.

Fast forward 10 years, and against the odds, the plucky 11-year-old has just begun his first term at Haslingden High.

Elliot’s mother Caroline has used the turmoil of his diagnosis, treatment and eventual remission, documented in diaries she kept at the time, as the basis for her book ‘The Diary of a Mother, Her Son and His Monster’.

With £1 from the sale of every £8 copy going to Macmillan Cancer Support, she has set her sights high and is determined to raise £1 million for the charity.

Caroline, an occupational therapist, said: “During my son’s cancer diagnosis, like all parents and carers, I really struggled to accept what was happening.

“I fought with myself, toiled, worried and became an utter wreck. It was then that I decided to try and externalise the situation and let it go, rather than holding all the emotions in and carrying the tension around with me.

“Initially, my writing was an endless ream of emotions and trauma, but with the passage of time, it gradually became more focused and began to take shape.

“By allowing the world to read my story, I hope I will be able to reach and help others who are going through, or have been through, a similar situation.”

She added: “I really want this book to help other people. When I was going through Elliot’s cancer treatment and care, no matter who was around me, I felt so alone and very isolated.

"Only a couple of people managed to penetrate the emotional brick wall I had built around me.

“One person who managed to help me and gave me so much support was our Macmillan nurse.

“She was a shining light in a very dull and depressing world. She was always there with her caring nature and kind heart, both at the hospital and at home.

“I therefore chose to help one of the charities who were invaluable to me.”

The Diary of a Mother, Her Son, and His Monster is available to buy from Amazon.co.uk and from publisher Empire Publications and on Kindle.