TWO X-box gaming carts have been donated to University Hospital by a not-for-profit organisation set up in memory of a ‘brave and selfless’ Coventry youngster who passed away from cancer aged just 13.
The gifts have been donated by Raising the Hopes of Young Stars (RHYS), which was set up after Rhys Cowen passed away in 2020.
Sky Blues fan Rhys was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer that forms in soft tissue, in May 2019, and underwent extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
Rhys enjoyed watching Liverpool and, after making a trip to Anfield in 2020 to see his idols play, he was inspired to give children and families affected by cancer a memorable day out or experience.
Rhys’s parents David and Charlene, who both work for Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust, visited UHCW with 14-year-old son Aaron to make the donation.
David said: “Rhys was an incredibly brave and selfless boy. When he knew there was nothing else that could be done and he was going to die, he told me he wanted me to raise money for children and families in similar situations.
“Throughout chemotherapy, and short stays in UHCW, he liked playing on the old Xbox and games to break the boredom.”
Kate Norton, Macmillan Trainee Advanced Nurse Practitioner for Paediatric Oncology at UHCW, added: “We are very thankful for this wonderful donation.
“When Rhys was a patient he enjoyed spending time out of his room in the evenings, moving to the Paediatric Medical Day Unit and playing on the consoles.
“Xbox is very popular with patients and anything that distracts from the boredom of hospital and the side effects of chemotherapy will be hugely beneficial.”
