A FATHER is praising the community in Urmston for their overwhelming support for his family.

Paul Anderton has four children, two of which face conditions making them bald.

10-year-old Finlay has been bald since he was two-years-old with alopecia, and has since had to deal with the everyday struggle of funny looks and comments.

Paul of Glenhaven Avenue said: “Urmston is pretty much the only place he feels welcome enough to not wear a hat or pull his hood up - elsewhere it’s seen as a bit of an oddity and kids point and old folks sometimes make inappropriate remarks.

"Most people in Urmston recognise him and give him a little smile."

In April this year his eldest son, 11-year-old Jude was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive bone cancer, Osteosarcoma.

Jude started with a pain in his right arm. After visiting the doctors, the pain did not go away and his arm started to swell. They then visited Trafford Health Centre who sent him for several scans, x-rays and finally for a biopsy which revealed the cancer.

Jude has had a bone graft operation where the bone in his arm has been replaced with a titanium implant and he now faces a long 29 weeks of chemotherapy where he spends up to four days a week in hospital.

Paul said: “The day we found out changed our family’s life. It’s so hard but Jude is amazing, I’ve never met anyone like him. He always has positive energy and it’s overwhelming how courageous he is.

“He does get down because he misses his friends and he’s not been able to go into school. But, he went in for his last day of year six and again the support we received there was overwhelming.

“Jude has always been protective of Finlay because he was his older brother, and when people made comments about him being bald he would always stick up for him. Now it is the other way around and Finlay really helps him out.

Jude has two other brothers, Noah who is six and Elijah who is four.

Paul and his wife Helen realised the people in Urmston were amazing on a trip to Mcdonalds with Jude where he fainted. They said everyone ran to their side to help and showed the family so much support.

Since the diagnosis, the community have helped the family in making them meals, cleaning their house and even lending them their car.

Friends have set up a just giving page for the family. They are taking part in a sponsored walk from Leeds to Manchester to help out with the hidden costs the illness comes with. To sponsor the walk visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/beckyandclairewalkforjude

As well as this, the family are promoting the Bone Cancer Research Trust to help into the research of the cancer, which is currently very limited. His cousin will be running the Yorkshire Marathon to help this cause. To sponcor Pete visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/peteturner

Paul said: “I just hope my lovely Urmston community accepts him with few glances or stares that his younger brother has come to appreciate. Please say 'hi' to us, give us a smile or stare if you wish, but please keep it discreet from my two lovely, amazing bald boys.”