“Cancer didn’t define Oliver; it brought out the superhero that was always inside of him.”
A year on from their son, Oliver’s, death, David and Laura Howe are “proud” to continue Oliver’s charity fundraising legacy as they set a target of £100,000 through the creation of Oliver’s Memory Meadow.
A year on from their son, Oliver’s, death, David and Laura Howe are “proud” to continue Oliver’s charity fundraising legacy as they set a target of £100,000 through the creation of Oliver’s Memory Meadow.
Throughout his cancer treatment, Team Oliver Howe fundraised for Sheffield Children’s Hospital as a thank-you for his lifesaving care.
Dad, David said: “Oliver told us one morning, ‘I’m glad I have cancer.’ Shocked and worried, we asked why. He replied: ‘Because I've got to help raise lots of money for the hospital to help other children. And people wouldn’t recognise me if not!’
“He wasn’t wrong. Receiving care on the Charity-funded Cancer and Leukaemia ward, he saw exactly how his fundraising helped children daily.
“Oliver loved it; he was proud to be helping other children at Sheffield Children’s.”
Oliver passed away on the 1st February at the age of eight years old.
Diagnosed with a brain tumour in September 2020, Oliver Howe spent the last three years of his life in and out of Sheffield Children’s Hospital as he fought for his life, until his death on 1st February 2023.
Recalling the day of Oliver’s diagnosis, Oliver’s dad, David, said: “He walked into our bedroom in the middle of the night. His exact words were ‘my brain hurts’. Within an hour, he was in and out of consciousness, so we rang for an ambulance.”
Oliver was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive brain tumour at Sheffield Children’s Hospital that same day, where he was immediately operated on. The lifesaving surgery lasted almost ten hours, successfully removing 80% of the growth.
Oliver spent the next three years of his life being treated on The Children’s Hospital Charity-funded cancer and leukaemia ward at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, receiving nine surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.
As a thank you for his care, Team Oliver Howe was established to raise funds for The Children’s Hospital Charity that supports Sheffield Children's Hospital. Team Oliver Howe raised over £100,000 for a variety of charities whilst Oliver was being treated.
Oliver fundraised alongside his family and friends, whether that was supporting The Children’s Hospital Charity’s Bears of Sheffield campaign or cheering his dad, David, on as he completed his 32-mile walking challenge. Oliver’s story gained attention across the region, raising awareness of childhood cancer and the life-changing care at Sheffield Children’s.
Oliver gained support from his Sheffield Steelers ice hockey community, including captain Robert Dowd, local Morrisons supermarkets, and celebrity patrons of The Children’s Hospital Charity including Jon Richardson, Lucy Beaumont, and Dan Walker.
David said: “The legacy that Oliver started has already raised so much money and helped so many other boys and girls and Oliver loved this. He took on his cancer diagnosis with pride so that he could channel his illness into something good.
“Cancer may have been the cause but please don’t ever think or say that Oliver lost his battle or lost the fight. He was and always will be a winner. He defied all the odds and helped the nurses, doctors, and consultants learn new things and improve their knowledge to help future boys and girls. That is the legacy of a winner! Cancer didn’t define Oliver; it brought out the superhero that was always inside of him.”
Mum, Laura, said: “Oliver would be so happy knowing that he has a Memory Meadow. Sheffield Children’s was his home for three years and he loved his hospital family. We will continue to make him proud and help in any way we can to keep his memory alive.”
Lucy Cain, Community Fundraising Manager at The Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are so proud of Team Oliver Howe and all of the fundraising they’ve done over the last few years.
“Oliver was just amazing. He was so brave, and it was an honour to have known him. It’s incredible to see how David and Laura are keeping his legacy alive and we’ll do anything we can at the Charity to help them do so.”