Young cancer survivor who fundraises for ill children turns on Legoland Christmas lights

Elliott will be running a Christmas toy appeal during his ongoing recovery from a brain tumour. Credit: BPM Media/ Family

A nine-year-old boy from Cornwall who has a brain tumour has switched on Legoland's Christmas tree lights - after fundraising for other sick children.

Elliott Furse started his annual appeal in 2018 when he donated all of his Christmas presents.

When asked by his parents to write a Christmas list, he said he wanted to donate the gifts to a local hospital instead of receiving the toys himself.

Then in a twist of fate, he found himself in hospital after being diagnosed with a brain tumour and has spent the last 12 months receiving treatment. But, despite his own illness, Elliott continued with his mission to raise money for charity.

In January, Elliott used some of the money he had raised to provide laptops and tablets for a local school to help other children who had to be home-schooled during lockdown.

ITV's This Morning invited Elliott - who is now free from cancer - to spend the day at Legoland in Windsor to turn on the Christmas lights.

Elliott turning on the lights at Legoland Windsor.

Presenter Alison Hammond met Elliott at the Hilton in Kensington to reveal the surprise, after he initially thought he was going for medical checks in hospital.

Sitting in the foyer of the hotel, Alison asked Elliott if he would "fancy going to Windsor Legoland" and turning on their Christmas lights.

Elliott and his family had the whole park to themselves throughout the day before he turned on the lights.

Speaking about the experience, Elliott's mum, Sam, said it was an "incredible surprise".

She said: "He felt so lucky. We were completely blown away."

Sam said Elliott has been able to go back to school at Heamoor Primary School and is living his life like a "normal nine-year-old boy".

With MRI scans every four months to keep on top of things, Elliott has even bigger plans, in what is described as his "dream project".

He hopes to buy a caravan next year which can be converted into somewhere that other children with cancer can stay on holiday in Cornwall as respite, either during their treatment or afterwards.

Donations to his latest Christmas toy appeal can be made here.