The campaign to raise enough money for life saving treatment for a Glengormley tot battling a rare form of childhood cancer has raised almost £80,000 so far.

Over the past number of weeks the campaign to raise £250,000 for Hightown three year old Oscar Knox has had a massive boost with more than £50,000 of that total raised in a few short weeks.

Little Oscar is battling a highly aggressive form of childhood cancer called neuroblastoma and his family need a quarter of a million to send him abroad for treatment.

The brave little boy was released from hospital last week after more than a month in isolation receiving chemo. His dada Stephen said they are amazed at the support that continues to flood in for Oscar including help from local sports teams.

“Our Olympic boxers have been brilliant and Paddy Barnes wore his Oscar Knox wristband through the Olympics,” he said.

“Donegal Celtic Football Club have Oscar’s name on the front of their shirts which is just unbelievable. From what we can remember the only other time that has happened was when Barcelona wore Unicef on the front of their shirts.

“Hillview Boxing Club raised money for us as well as a night in Ligoniel Working Mens Club that also raised a lot of money. We did a big collection at the Glentoran and Donegal Celtic game that raised plenty too as well as a bungee jump in Carrick at the weekend.”

Stephen said wee Oscar is delighted to be back home with his family.

“It’s great to have him home and just for us all to be together again as a family,’ she said,

“He is happy to be back and was so excited watching the boxers in the Olympics. It’s great to have him home.”

The family’s moving story on Oscar’s condition and his ongoing treatment is chronicled in a blog, available for viewing at www.oscarknox.blogspot.co.ukDonations to help him reach his goal can be made at www.justgiving.com/teams/weeoscar or in person at the Belfast Media Group’s offices at Hannahstown Hill or on the Antrim Road.

The family can be contacted for fundraising ideas and details at Teamoscar@hotmail.co.uk.