A four-year-old boy with cancer watched on as his parents donated blood at a donor session on Sunday.

Jake Cohen, who was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma 12 months ago, has had 25 blood transfusions as he battles the illness.

In the last year, Jake has had chemotherapy and three rounds of MIBG therapy, a form of internal radiotherapy.

At Yavneh College in Borehamwood on Sunday, Jake’s parents Hannah and Adam donated blood at Joely Bear’s 71st blood donor session.

Jake was fascinated because he began to understand where the blood that helps him fight cancer comes from. He was joined by his sister Phoebe, and the deputy mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr Alan Plancey.

Borehamwood Times:

The Cohen family with Cllr Plancey

Joely Bear was set up in memory of Joel Renak, who died following a year-long battle with a rare form of liver cancer when he was just four-and-a-half years old. Since 1995, the Joely Blood Appeal has raised money for hospitals and research into paediatric cancers as well as promoting giving blood, from its base in Elstree.

More than 1,500 donors have been recruited since the charity was set up.