Charlie Hewson was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma at the age of 9 months, after his parents noticed that his leg was swollen and slightly misshapen. Six months after surgery, Charlie had his first prosthetic leg fitted. Half a year later, he took his first steps alone and now, at the age of nine, he plays football for Brighton and Hove Albion Amputee FC.

Mine is a story of multiple setbacks but there is a happy ending so keep reading and you’ll get to it!

Having always been a very active person (cycling, playing football and skateboarding), at the age of 20, after nine months of misdiagnosis and a visible tennis ball sized lump in my lower back, I was diagnosed with a chondrosarcoma in my coccyx. I had surgery but the tumour returned and I was referred to Mr Cannon at the RNOH.

When Anna was 11 years old she was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma just below her right knee.

Anna had chemotherapy and surgery to replace the affected knee and shin bone, but sadly a resistant infection meant that Anna had to have her leg amputated. She then managed with crutches to get around, until she was able to have a C-Leg fitted at Dorset Orthopaedic’s Midland clinic.

Anna's parents, Steve and Liz said: “We are grateful to Scat and Dorset Orthopaedic… despite losing her leg to bone cancer, Anna leads a full academic and social life!”

Kim was only 13 when she was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma. She had been experiencing a pain in her calf area every time she would walk to school.

On 27 April 2015 it was so bad that her calf had swollen and become very red. The school contacted her Mum and advised that she should be taken to A&E as ‘they had never seen anything like it’. At first they thought it was a sports injury, as Kim is a very sporty person, and it was put down to being a torn calf muscle but, when she then began to develop sweats over the next few days - an ultrasound was carried out whereby it revealed a much more serious issue. Kim had a tumour in her calf muscle.

My name’s Anjni, I’m 19 years old (soon to be 20 in a few days) and I suffered from Osteosarcoma in my left leg femur which resulted in an above knee amputation of my left leg.

I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma at the age of 10. It was pretty scary thing to go through at such a young age. I always thought why did it have to be me that has to suffer from this? What’s going to happen if I don’t get better?

Tom was told that he had Osteosarcoma in his tibia when he was just 19.

He had always enjoyed playing cricket and it was while training that he first noticed the pain in his leg. Although Tom had a successful course of chemotherapy, it was not possible to save his leg. After the operation Tom found it difficult to walk with his prosthetic limb, but gradually got used to it. With funding from Scat, Tom has now been fitted with a 'Genium' leg. Not only has the new leg improved his general quality of life, but best of all he can play cricket again!

Edward had his leg below the knee amputated due to osteosarcoma when aged only 17. Despite this he has emerged as a very talented wheelchair tennis player.

After chemotherapy treatment, eventual amputation, more hospital treatment and time recovering, Edward has achieved considerable success in his life. Success as a tennis player is important to Edward and he has already competed at the highest levels. Edward has reached his highest world rankings of 90 (singles) and 89 (doubles). More importantly, his recent four year cancer scan was clear!

Olivia was diagnosed in 2011 with Osteosarcoma, a rare cancer that mainly affects young people.

After blood tests and an MIR scan she was given the devastating news that she would need her leg amputated above the knee. Olivia had her first prosthetic leg fitted on her 15th birthday and although she was pleased, it did not quite keep her up with her busy lifestyle. She had her heart set on a state of the art Genium limb and that is where SCT were able to help!

Nicolas was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma at the end of 2011. In May 2012, Nick had his left leg amputated above the knee and was supplied with an NHS prosthetic limb.

The leg proved very basic and uncomfortable, requiring crutches for stability, but the NHS could not fund the cost for available high tech prostheses. Nick's mother contacted Scat and they provided funds for Nick to receive a C-Leg. The new leg made a big difference to Nick's life and he returned to full time education with confidence and hopes to resume his great love – cricket.

Kelly was a 15 year old, sporty teenager, when she was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in her shinbone.

Osteosarcoma is a rare form of bone cancer and Kelly needed urgent chemotherapy to check the disease. Unfortunately the cancer was so advanced that it was necessary to amputate her leg above the knee. A very determined person, Kelly has kept up her sporting activities and used them to raise considerable funds for charity.

Recently Kelly heard about SCT and has now been fitted with a new C-Leg, which she says has improved her quality of life.

Dilan Hayes was 11 years old when he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in his left leg.

Over a number of year he endured a range of treatments including chemotherapy and numerous surgical operations in hope that his leg could be saved. Unfortunately Dilan lost this battle and in 2011 he had his left hip and leg removed.

After contacting Scat in June 2013 the process of fitting Dilan with a Helix Hip and C-Leg commenced and in December, Dilan’s parents saw him ‘walk’ home – a very special day – back to his daily life with his friends at university.

Sarah, a single mum, had her left leg amputated above the knee in 2012.

Up until Osteosarcoma, a cancer of the bone intervened, she was an active mum, spending a lot of time with her son walking in the park, the forest and on nature trails. Sarah has had two NHS prosthetic legs provided, but was still limited in her activities. Fortunately Scat was able to provide a high activity C-Leg. This has made a significant difference and she and her son are now able to be much more active together.

In 2008 Jean discovered a lump by the ball of her foot, which after x-ray and a biopsy, was confirmed as a soft tissue cancer called a Sarcoma.

The only treatment for the cancer was amputation and Jean had a section of her left leg and the knee amputated. After the operation Jean needed a special limb called an 'Echelon' foot – unfortunately it was not available on the NHS. However, Scat was able to fund Jean's prosthetic foot and since then she has made great progress.