A BRAVE Alderholt boy who is battling cancer has been described as an “inspiration” by staff at the village shop, who held a fundraising event for the children’s ward that is treating him.

Alex Canning, 11, who goes to Western Downland School, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at the end of February.

Ten members of Co-op staff, including his grandmother Wendy Lockyer who works on the bakery section, wore onesies to work last week.

Alex, who has just finished his second course of chemotherapy, has been attending the Piam Brown ward, a paediatric oncology and haematology centre at Southampton General Hospital.

His mum Claire Musselwhite said the diagnosis was made after she took Alex to the doctor with a lump just above his collarbone.

She said: “The staff at the unit have been so supportive and positive. My mum, who has come with us a few times to the hospital, wanted to do something to raise money for the ward.

“Alex is amazing; he has been so strong, which of course makes us strong too. He has many friends in and out of school, who have also been very supportive of him. Alex has finished his course of chemotherapy now and he will have a scan in the middle of May to see how he is doing.

Mrs Lockyer said: “Alex is so brave and such an inspiration. Throughout all his treatment, Alex doesn’t moan at all, he is so brave.

“I feel that the ward does so much for the children in there and money is needed all the time. I wanted to help them for helping my grandson.”

Co-op manager Wendy Bryant said: “Alex is a lovely, popular boy and the family live in the village. Since Alex’s diagnosis I have heard more about the children’s ward and they do so many good things that we have heard about, I just wanted to support them.”