Staindrop dad’s delight as cash is raised for son’s brain tumour op

A DALE father has thanked well-wishers for helping to raise £200,000 which has enabled his five-year-old son to travel to America for life-changing treatment.
John Charles, of Staindrop, set up a fundraising campaign in September after he discovered his son, Finley Ingles, was diagnosed with hypothalamic harmatoma – a rare and inoperable benign brain tumour. The five-year-old has been suffering from severe epilepsy, gelastic seizures, endocrine problems, darcrystic seizures and tonic-clonic seizures. He also has learning difficulties, developmental delays and rage attacks.
Despite undergoing treatments her in the UK, laser ablation surgery is Finley’s last resort. Not only does it come at a cost of about £150,000, the state-of-the-art procedure is only available in Arizona and Texas. Thankfully, residents from across the dale helped Mr Charles raise about £7,000 for Finley’s cause. Together with a separate online fundraising page set up by his mum, £200,000 was raised by the end of last year and Finley is now in Texas awaiting the operation.
Finley began tests on Monday (February 6) in preparation for the surgery which he will have next Friday, February 17. He is expected to be in the US for four weeks.
Mr Charles said: “It’s brilliant that’s he has gone to America for the operation. It is unreal that all of the money was raised.
“I am feeling nervous now he is out there but fingers crossed he is going be able to lead a normal life and be a little boy again.”
Finley, who lives in Middlesbrough with his mum, experienced his first seizure in April 2013 when he was only 18 months old. Initially doctors said it was a fit caused by a fever. However, Finley later suffered a more severe seizure while playing in the park. An MRI scan revealed the devastating news that the youngster had a rare brain tumour. Having been transferred to the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, further tests revealed the rare tumour.
Since the news broke in Teesdale of the family’s ordeal, the community rallied together to show their support and donations began pouring in.
Staindrop resident Lee McAuslane, 34, and his friend Hughie Wharton, 71, raised £400 after cycling more than 50 miles across the Pennines.
Meanwhile, a sponsored race night took place at The Cross Keys, in Gainford, as well as a fun day which was held at B&M, off Whessoe Road, in Darlington.
Mr Charles said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported us and donated. We could not have done it without them.”