The Radfords rallied their family together to raise funds for a 16-year-old with a rare type of cancer – who is the daughter of their ‘best friends’ Jamie and Rebecca Walker.
The young teenager, called Sophie, has Wilms’ tumour, a type of kidney cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2017, aged 10.
She had a ‘good few years’ being cancer-free – but it has sadly now returned. And on Sunday’s episode of 22 Kids & Counting – airing at 8pm on Channel 5 – Noel and Sue, parents of the UK’s ‘biggest family’ with 22 children, brought their clan together to support the Walkers.
‘Jamie and Rebecca have been there for us in really hard times,’ the mother of the Morecambe-based brood told the programme. ‘When we lost Alfie… and now they’re going through this we just want to be there for them.’
The Radfords underwent a series of tasks to raise money for treatment, kicking off with an urgent video appeal to their social media followers.
The Radfords rallied their family together to raise funds for a 16-year-old with a rare type of cancer – who is the daughter of their ‘best friends’ Jamie and Rebecca Walker
Next, the family also decided to bring in funds with a car boot sale, where 11-year-old Casper parted with a beloved Baby Yoda toy for the cause.
Finally, the brood came together – sporting matching bright yellow T-shirts – to run the Morecambe 5K, which they dubbed the Radford Relay to reach their target.
‘Tell you what was really emotional was the start,’ Noel told the show. ‘And he brought us all forward and he explained what we were doing and the whole crowd just suddenly started clapping. It’s all really brought it home.’
The Walkers, who are based in Edinburgh, were so touched by the family’s dedication to their daughter’s cause that they met them at the end of the finish line.
‘Lovely that they’ve done this,’ Rebecca said. ‘It’s really nice. We just felt we had to come down.’
Sue explained that the Walkers – who have nine children – have been incredible friends to the Radfords because they understand what it’s like to have a large family.
She was also blown away by Sophie’s optimistic attitude, especially during a beach trip to Cornwall taken by the two families in the episode, which is understood to have been filmed in the summer.
‘When you look at Sophie, she’s so positive and she’s laughing and joking and you’d never even think that anything is wrong,’ Sue, 48, said.
The young teenager, called Sophie, has Wilms’ tumour, a type of kidney cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2017, aged 10. Pictured in July
The Radfords underwent a series of tasks to raise money for treatment, kicking off with an urgent video appeal to their social media followers. Sue pictured hugging Sophie
‘She’s so incredible with how she deals with everything that’s thrown at her, she really is. She’s a total inspiration.’
Noel, 53, agreed, describing the teenager as ‘a rock’. An emotional moment also showed Sophie’s parents tearing up as they expressed how much they love their daughter.
‘She’s such a good person,’ Jamie simply said, before bursting into tears and embracing his wife.
By the end of the episode, it was revealed that enough money was raised for the first stage of Sophie’s treatment.
Four months later, it was shown that the teen had undergone an ‘intensive course of chemotherapy’.
However, she’s been able to tolerate it thanks to treatments paid for with some of the funds raised.
An emotional moment also showed Sophie’s parents tearing up as they expressed how much they love their daughter. Both pictured
Sue was also blown away by Sophie’s optimistic attitude, especially during a beach trip to Cornwall taken by the two families in the episode, which is understood to have been filmed in the summer
Sophie gets Vitamin C through a canula twice a week. The benefits of this procedure for cancer patients are still not proven – but her parents have praised its effects.
‘We’ve seen an immediate difference,’ Jamie said. ‘Literally straight away you can see her colour changing, you can see her perking up.’
Rebecca said it’s ‘like she’s not even having chemo’. Sophie’s latest tumour has also shrunk.
Earlier in the episode, the teenager’s mother also expressed her anxieties around Sophie’s condition.
‘It’s such a rare cancer,’ she explained. ‘There’s only around 70 children diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour every year. I just feel like the NHS can’t really offer us anything further.’
However, she added: ‘I don’t think we’re holding onto false hope – I think genuinely, she can be cured.’
Sue explained that the Walkers – who have nine children – have been incredible friends to the Radfords because they understand what it’s like to have a large family. Pictured creating their social media appeal
In the six years since being diagnosed, Sophie’s twin sister Megan has experienced many of the same symptoms, including stomach and back pain, paleness and weight loss.
Megan even underwent a ‘head-to-toe’ MRI scan, which came back completely clear. Her doctors have called the phenomenon a ‘twin thing’.
Speaking earlier last year, the girls’ mother, said: ‘When Sophie was first diagnosed, Megan had all the symptoms.
‘People comment on how ill she looks all the time — she’s even paler than her sister.’
She added: ‘Every test under the sun has been done on her, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with her. It’s so bizarre.’
Wilms’ tumour is a type of kidney cancer in children, which most often affects those under the age of five.
It was named after Dr Max Wilms, who first discovered it, and around 90 children are diagnosed each year in the UK. In the US, there are 500 to 600 cases annually.
Sophie was diagnosed on October 25, 2017, after experiencing ‘stomach bug-like cramps’. She had four weeks of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour.
After an additional 27 weeks of chemotherapy, Sophie went into remission in April 2018.
Next, the family also decided to bring in funds with a car boot sale, where 11-year-old Casper parted with a beloved Baby Yoda toy for the cause
But in January 2020, a routine MRI showed ‘something worrying’ on her spine.
A doctor reportedly told Rebecca that Sophie’s initial biopsy had seeded on her spine — meaning the needle inserted into Sophie’s initial tumour had dislodged and spread cancer cells.
The Covid pandemic delayed further treatment — surgery and a three-week course of radiotherapy — but Sophie again went into remission in January 2021.
She then relapsed in December that year, and underwent chemotherapy until May 2022.
In November 2022, Sophie went into remission for a third time but following a check-up just a month later, doctors said her results were ‘not good’.
In November of this year, the Walkers shared an update on Sophie’s treatment with their Instagram followers following a consultation at Harefield Hospital.
Their daughter was due to have the tumours removed ‘on the 7th December or the 4th January’ before she starts chemotherapy.
‘The surgery will cost around £30,000 but may have additional costs depending on the level of aftercare Sophie needs, the money raised so far has been spent on a whopping amount towards the first lot of Vitamin C which was £10k,’ the post read.
In November 2022, Sophie went into remission for a third time but following a check-up just a month later, doctors said her results were ‘not good’. Pictured in December 2022
What is a Wilms’ tumour?
Wilms’ tumour is a type of kidney cancer in children. About 80 to 85 children in the UK develop a Wilms’ tumour each year. It most often affects children under the age of seven.
It is thought to develop from immature cells in the embryo. These cells are involved in the development of the child’s kidneys while they are in the womb.
The cells usually disappear at birth, but in many children with Wilms’ tumour, clusters of primitive kidneys cells, called nephrogenic rests can still be found.
The most common symptom is a swollen abdomen, which is usually painless. Sometimes a parent or carer may feel a lump in the abdomen which can be quite large.
What are the symptoms?
- Swollen abdomen – often painless
- Lump in the abdomen
- Irritated kidney causing pain
- Blood in urine
- High blood pressure
- Fever
- Upset stomach
How is a Wilms’ tumour diagnosed?
An abdominal ultrasound scan will be done first, followed by an MRI or CT scan of the abdomen and chest. This helps doctors identify where the tumour is and if the cancer has spread.
Children will also have urine and blood samples taken to check their kidney function and most will have a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
How is a Wilma’ tumour treated?
Children will have a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy to treat a Wilms’ tumour. This will depend on the stage their cancer is at and whether it affects one or both kidneys.
‘The consultation fees for New York were around £7k, ongoing Vitamin C costs £250 each time and she needs this 2-3 times a week. The repurposed drugs and supplements are around £1K a month but help to, at the very least slow the disease progression.
‘The Vitamin C is absolutely vital for Sophie because it keeps her well enough to continue with treatment, she’s had a lot of chemotherapy and most children wouldn’t be able to continue. Sophie is tolerating chemo so well and this is definitely all because of the Vitamin C.
‘We are absolutely desperate for Sophie to continue with treatments, I know times are really hard for everyone right now especially at Christmas time but if you can spare a small amount to help save our daughter then it would be greatly appreciated.
‘Thank you to everyone for everything, even just the messages of support and well wishes. These mean so much to us and we are humbled by how many people are helping fight for Sophie, we are grateful beyond belief.’
The Walkers also have a GoFundMe page where they raise funds for Sophie’s treatment.
22 Kids & Counting is on at 8pm, Sunday January 21, on Channel 5
ncG1vNJzZmhqZGy7psPSmqmorZ6Zwamx1qippZxemLyue8Snq56qpJa2r7nEp6toamJixqat0WampZxdqMK0vMScq2aqn5eys8CMnKmipZ9irqytjJqumqOVYsGpsYyrmKmolad6tLXBpaCnn6NisabAwKKjrGWimsOmrcuem2aekaK2rcWMqKmin5mjeqWx0pypopqVmXw%3D