Village applauds as Alfie arrives home from hospital after cancer treatment

Six-year-old Blisworth Primary School pupil Alfie Andrews was left feeling "overwhelmed" yesterday evening after dozens of villagers came out to applaud him on his first day back at home with his family.

The young Northampton Saints' fan has been on a six-month treatment plan at a Nottingham hospital where his mum and dad have stayed by his bedside with thanks to £13,000 raised through a Go Fund Me page.

Alfie fell poorly 11 days before Christmas in 2019 and was sent to the hospital by his doctor with what was thought to be a virus.

But further same-day tests discovered the youngster had developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma in his stomach, which spread to his spine, behind his left eye and between his brain and skull.

Last night, in a last-minute surprise for Alfie's family, a big cheer was arranged for them at 8pm so lots of Blisworth residents could congratulate his mum Sarah dad Steven and big sister Katie, 11 - at a safe distance.

Sarah said: "Alfie was buzzing yesterday, he was very emotional. Both me and Alfie haven't really seen anyone since December so he loved it.

"He saw all his friends from school, which was really lovely and he kept saying 'everyone was so big'. He was very shy but really overwhelmed. He kept saying 'is this for me?' he couldn't quite believe it.

"It was a huge surprise for us, we didn't expect the amount of people who came - I was just expecting two to three families who have been close with us the whole way but I didn't expect the whole village.

"We walked out and we didn't know what to say so we kind of stood there and cried."

Alfie, who has now rang the hospital bell after his final chemotherapy treatment, has a final two-hour MRI scan next month, which should give the family further clarity on whether his cancer has gone.

"I'm so proud of our village and everybody," Sarah added. "The money has helped us to stay together, which is huge, the donation is breathtaking.

"Alfie will be 7 on the 18th of June so he will be home for his birthday, which is really special.

"Alfie's aim is to be at the Northampton Saints soon - he wants to be the ball boy. They have been amazing, all the boys have sent videos, messages and texts. Alfie is the true heart of Northampton really."