Oliver Jepson

At just six years old, Ollie was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer known as embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. In the two years that followed, Ollie underwent gruelling treatments that would challenge even the strongest adult - intense chemotherapy sessions, numerous hospital stays, and an ever-looming uncertainty that shadowed each day. Yet, through this challenging time Ollie found an unexpected source of comfort and healing: art.

What began as simple doodles during long hours of treatment evolved into a creative outlet and Ollie's way of expressing the complex emotions any child would struggle to communicate. “On his toughest days, when the pain and fear seem overwhelming, Ollie turns to his art,” shares his mother, Naomi. “It's as if each colourful bubble he creates is a small act of defiance against cancer.”

In December 2024, Ollie and his family were told that his latest scans showed ‘no evidence of cancer’. It meant Ollie could look forward to an extra special Christmas – the first one in years without the shadow of hospital visits and treatments. 

However, the type of the type of soft tissue cancer Ollie has, rhabdomyosarcoma, has a high rate of relapse – which mean regular monitoring scans will remain a part of Ollie’s life, each one bringing with it an emotional rollercoaster for him and his family. “We’ve had some scary moments where Ollie’s PTSD has broken our hearts,” Naomi explains. “His nightmares come and go, and the scans and appointments feel never-ending.”