A SIX-YEAR-OLD boy from Wiltshire rung the bell at Salisbury District Hospital this morning to signify the end of his cancer treatment.

Finn Martin was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2015, and following the completion of his three-year chemotherapy treatment, he returned to the hospital’s Sarum Ward to ring the end of treatment bell.

Before the ceremony began, Debbie Martin, Finn’s mother, said she was “so excited” but the experience will be “emotional after such a journey”.

She added: “It all started here three and a half years ago, just around the corner from the bell Finn was diagnosed, and when you get told the treatment will last more than three years you can’t even start to think about the next days ahead.

“The end of the treatment has been a massive relief, but there are still a lot of nerves. It’s going to be a strange transition but it is early days.”

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Finn’s experience with leukaemia included intensive treatments, losing the ability to walk, daily chemotherapy and weekly blood tests.

And now Finn is able to walk, can ride a bike, and is catching up “beautifully” at school.

“Finn got diagnosed at three-years-old and it was so unexpected, and we just lost all sense of normality and had to create a ‘new normal’ to get by,” Debbie added.

Last year the end of the treatment bell was installed by the Martin family, as they were “surprised” there wasn’t already one in place.

Debbie added: “The idea comes from America - the bell is a positive visual message and shows there can be light at the end of the tunnel, Finn has been one of the lucky ones but when you are there you can’t help but think about what others are going through and what can be done to help.”

During the celebrations the family offered gifts and cakes to the team on the Sarum Ward, as well as presenting a cheque of £270, raised through a baking sale.

Toys were also donated by the family to console other patients during their treatment and visits to the ward.

Finn rang an unofficial bell at the top of the London Eye last month to celebrate the immediate end to his treatment, and will now continue his education while being regularly checked by doctors.

Debbie is “eternally grateful” to the staff at the hospital, adding: “Everyone has been so supportive and fantastic.”