Corey broke the mould, now his family are on a mission to raise cash; Running up a great amount to help cause.

Byline: SAM BEATTIE

CHARITY will begin at home for the family of teenager Corey Duncan, who lost his battle with an extremely rare form of cancer six months ago.

His mum and dad are planning to start a fund in memory of "the boy who broke the mould".

The 14-year-old from Thornaby died of a cancer in his kidney that is almost unheard of in children and usually only affects adults over the age of 55.

Throughout his 10 months of turbulence with the disease, friends, family and community pulled together to raise cash for his final wish - a trip to the United States.

Corey died before he could go. But, six months on, the fundraising has shown no signs of drying up.

Now his parents Craig and Annette say they want to set up a charity to promote research and awareness into Corey's strain of cancer - renal cell carcinoma.

"There's no-one in the UK researching what Corey had," said Annette, who took time off her job at Tetley in Eaglescliffe to spend time with her son when he was ill.

"There are adults with it, but it's very, very rare in kids.

"Doctors said Corey's illness was down to a genetic abnormality. I know you can't stop this type of cancer coming but a lack of awareness means it's hard to diagnose. At first some doctors just think it's backache.

"He ended up with cancer in his lungs and his liver.

"The rarity made it harder because they just didn't know what they were dealing with. They didn't have a clue how quickly it would spread."

The shock of losing Corey is only just beginning to sink in for the family, including Corey's two sisters, Ainsley, 13, and 18-year-old Reanne, Annette added.

"It doesn't get easier. It gets harder. At first you don't think it's real - and then it kicks in and you go through all the different emotions.

"I think you have to be in that situation to realise how bad it is.

"Sometimes you feel quite guilty about him going through that. I don't know how we've done it. But he was so brave. He just seemed to get on with it."

Craig, who works in construction, said: "Obviously you don't hear about these things until you're involved with it.

"We can understand what other families are going through. Your life just stops and starts again.

"You just want to help them and give something back."

Currently, donations are being sent to Ward 16 at the RVI in Newcastle, where Corey was treated.

They will continue to go to the unit until Corey's charity is up and running.

COREY'S charity would be sure to get off to a flying start.

Recently, his sister Ainsley, 13, raised pounds 400 by taking part in the Children's Cancer Run in Newcastle in memory of her brother.

She ran the five-mile course with her friend Bethany Flynn, also 13 and from Thornaby.

Ainsley said: "I heard about the run and thought 'I could do that'. I told Bethany about it and she said she wanted to do it too. It went alright. It meant a lot to me."

Corey's cousin, Genna Smith, organised a fashion show - complete with guest performers including Middlesbrough vocalist Alistair Griffin - and raised more than pounds 3,000.

She said she felt compelled to do something for children who face the same battle as Corey after his death left her family distraught.

Along with colleagues at Middlesbrough salon, Imagine, she held an auction at the event at the Lobby on Albert Road, Middlesbrough. One of the prizes, a holiday in Sardinia, drummed up pounds 950.

"It's only the start for Corey's charity," she said. Annette's brother, Sammy, and a bunch of mates raised pounds 1,500 by trekking from Roseberry Topping to Osmotherley. Next year, he plans to scale Mount Kilimanjaro to kick-start Corey's charity fund.

Steve Carroll and Claire McBeth, who run Thornaby's Animal Pantry pet shop and supplied Corey with his prized marine fish tank when he fell ill, organised a raffle. They raised pounds 400 for the Teenage Cancer Trust at Newcastle RVI.

Corey's mum, Annette, said: "I think we'll get a lot of help and support from everyone when we get it going because everyone's been brilliant. I think Corey would have loved to have got involved in it."

The facts

What is renal cell carcinoma?

It's a type of cancer that originates in the tiny tubes that filter blood in the kidneys. The name is often abbreviated to RCC.

How serious is it?

It's the most severe of all cancers in its group.

Long-term survival rates can be as high as 90% for small growths but can drop below 5% if, like in Corey's case, it spreads to other organs. Who does it affect?

While anyone can develop RCC, it's far more common in adults than children. Most patients are middle-aged or older.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms can include aches and pains in the kidney area, blood in the urine, high blood pressure or sudden weight loss.

How is it treated?

Surgery to remove parts or all of the kidney is the norm. However, in 60% of cases the cancer spreads, warranting further treatment.

CAPTION(S):

The rarity made it harder because they just didn't know what they were dealing with. They didn't have a clue how quickly it would spread - Annette Duncan, pictured above with Corey who lost his fight with cancer six months ago BIG EFFORT: 13-year-old Ainsley Duncan with her dad Craig after taking part in the Children's Cancer Run Picture by