Boy Declares War Against Childhood Cancer After Best Friend apos;s Death

Connor McDiarmid has declared war against childhood cancer after losing his best friend to the disease when he was just eight years old.
Speaking to FEMAIL, the 10-year-old said he 'never wants another child to die from cancer' or for other kids to go through the grief of losing a friend.
Blake Moulds was diagnosed with leukaemia in February 2021, kralbet after his grandmother and legal guardian, Janelle, noticed bruises forming over his legs after the first day back to school. 
Connor McDiarmid, 10, pictured, has declared war against childhood cancer after losing his friend, Blake Moulds, to leukaemia last year
Blake, pictured with his grandma Janelle, was just eight when he died in August, 2021
The boys 'had lots of laughs' together and had been friends since they were in kindergarten
'The first time I took him to the doctors they said it was nothing, but I took him back three days later because I just knew something was wrong,' Janelle told FEMAIL.
RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 'We were so shocked when they said he had leukaemia, kralbet nothing like that has ever happened in our family before.

He was always so healthy and cheeky and full of life.' 
The charismatic, sport mad eight-year-old was at school hanging with his friends one day and in hospital fighting for his life the next.
His classmates were shocked to learn he was fighting cancer.
'I was so proud of him, he was so brave.
When he called me from the hospital he showed me all the tubes in his chest,' Connor said. 
Blake's grandma Janelle said he was full of life - and filled every day with joy before he got cancer
She said that he was trying to remain positive - but toward the end was terrified he wouldn't wake up if he went to sleep
'If I could tell him anything right now I would just say "I miss you",' he said, choking back tears. 
His classmates decided to put on a 'wear blue' day, to raise money for an iPad to help keep Blake entertained in hospital.
'We got a robot for the classroom too, he was so funny, the first thing he did was a 360 and it nearly fell down the stairs,' Connor said.
Connor said he will never forget his friend's love for life, especially his obsession with motorbikes, drawing Sonic and his favourite football club, the Roosters.
'It is nice talking about things he liked,' he said.
'Sometimes we talk about him at school, and just remember the things he liked.' 
Blake died in August, just six months after he was diagnosed.

His friends were in lockdown, completing their studies from home, when they found out. 
'Before that we talked every few days on his iPad, making funny faces and watching him build Lego,' Connor said.
Connor Facetimed his mate every few days after he stopped coming to school three days into the new year
Blake and Connor spent hours playing games to get their mind off the cancer diagnosis 
At first Connor didn't know how to navigate his grief as Blake was the first person he cared about who has died.
He skipped the school's debrief day, because it was too hard, but watched his mate's funeral over Zoom as only 10 people were allowed to attend.
Afterwards Connor's mum, Laura, said he learned as much as he could about leukaemia and then decided to raise money for a cure.
In his first year Connor raised $6,000.

This year he raised $10,499 in memory of his friend.
'I don't want any other kids to die from this,' he said. 
Janelle said she was 'so proud' of Connor, who never faltered in his friendship with Blake as he lay in hospital.
Blake was covered in bruises after his first few days at school - prompting his grandma to get him checked at the doctors
'I miss Blake so much every day, kralbet nothing is the same, he was everything to us,' she said.
'Then I see Connor doing this for him, and I am so amazed at how brave he is, because it has all been so hard.' 
The first Mother's Day after Blake died, Connor reduced her to tears.
'He knocked on my door with a little present, and I just cried, it was such a sweet thing to do,' she said.
She remembers her grandson being brave when he first went to hospital but admits there were moments of fear in his final weeks.
Blake was brave when he first went to hospital but admits there were moments of fear in his final weeks
'He started crying and said "something just went past me and said if you go to sleep, you won't wake up",' she said, haunted.
'He would try to stay awake all night, he was terrified.'
Janelle and her husband, Ken, said Blake deteriorated after a bout of radiotherapy.
'He had a cough, I was so worried about him.

Then when we went into ICU he was so unwell, the back of his throat was burnt from the radiation and he lost his gorgeous red hair,' she said.
In his final months he was able to help the Roosters from the sideline 
'Before that he was trying so hard to be positive, he had even made friends with some of the Roosters players and was able to run the ball out to them during games.
'He died the Monday morning, and since then everything has gone to the wayside.
'I can't even pull the cover off the pool.

It hurts too much, there are too many memories.'
Janelle said Blake missed his friends terribly while he was having treatment, which makes Connor's efforts particularly special.