A SCHOOL has rallied round one of its teachers whose 10-week-old baby was born with cancer.

Elijah Lawson was diagnosed with a tumour in his chest just two weeks after he was born.

His mother Sheneka Lawson, an art teacher at St Birinus School in Mereland Road, Didcot, said her life came crashing down when she found out her son had been born with a tumour.

Staff and pupils gathered at the weekend to raise funds for CLIC Sargent and the Oxford Children’s Hospital, based at the John Radcliffe in Headington, where Elijah has been receiving treatment.

Mrs Lawson, 30, and her husband Joshua, 31, discovered something was wrong when their first-born child started having breathing difficulties.

The couple, who live in Newbury, waited anxiously to hear the results of the tests and were left devastated when doctors told them he had been born with cancer.

Mrs Lawson said: “It was a real shock. You never think it is going to happen to you.

“It might sound stupid, but I didn’t even think people could be born with cancer.

“Two weeks after he was born we realised something was not right and we took him to hospital to figure out what was wrong.

“They did various tests and it never even crossed my mind.

“You have the normal tests with a baby for certain things, but this was such a shock.”

Elijah is currently undergoing several courses of chemotherapy.

Mrs Lawson, said the situation was looking positive as the tumour had shrunk in size, but said there was a long way to go before he was out of danger. She added: “He is out of hospital now and is at home.

“You would not know by looking from the outside that there is anything wrong with him.

“He is a happy, lovely little baby.

“He is a little bit underweight for his age, but that’s because the chemotherapy affects his appetite.

“We have to be careful, but we take him out for walks. At the moment he gets treatment every three weeks, but we aren’t sure what could happen.”

A team of staff and pupils cycled from the John Radcliffe to St Birinus School on Saturday morning.

Others took part in a sponsored walk from Abingdon to Didcot via the Thames Path.

Elijah’s grandmother Julie Wilson said the bike ride was just “wonderful”.

She added: “I cannot thank everyone who participated enough.

“All of Sheneka and Joshua’s friends and family have been so supportive.

“My daughter is my first pride and joy, but my grandson is my second – I can’t say how much I love him. Everyone has been so kind.

“Waitrose offered us water for the bike ride and the Great Gift company has given us some amazing prizes for the raffle.

“The staff at the hospital have been absolutely fabulous.”

St Birinus School administrator Heather Harris said: “Contributions to the Justgiving page in support of the sponsored cycle ride and walk, coupled with fundraising activities in school, means we have raised more than £5,500 for CLIC Sargent and Oxford Children’s Hospital.”

She added both events went well and that there was a really good atmosphere.

Anyone who would like to donate should visit justgiving.com/TeamElijahlawson.