FUND-RAISING efforts to help the family of a Dunfermline schoolboy suffering from leukaemia have topped a staggering £11,000 in just three months.

Samuel Bernthal (7) was diagnosed with the disease in April at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy after he was sent home from school feeling sick and suffering from nose bleeds and bruising.

The Press reported last month that devastated parents Dave and Lee (both 38), of Douglas Drive, rushed him to Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Hospital where he has undergone three of four gruelling blocks of chemotherapy, although doctors have confirmed that the McLean Primary pupil is now in remission.

With the parents taking leave from work to be with their son, family friend Eve Elsby started an online donation page.

And, as well as contributions to the site, a number of events, ranging from a music gig in PJ Molloys to Samuel’s class-mate Ailee Dudzik raising over £1000 by cutting off her hair to donate to a cancer charity who make wigs (pictured right), have helped raise the astonishing five-figure sum.

Dave said, “When you actually stop and think about what folk are doing for us, it’s something you can’t quite believe.

“We’ve even had folk contacting us asking if they can pray for him! It’s very humbling but he’s doing fine and feeling well in himself.

“He had a fortnight at home recently which was good as we were able to be a family again, doing normal stuff like going to the funfair at Duloch.” He continued, “He’s just had his third block of chemotherapy and hopefully he’ll just have one more to go.

“We’re hoping to get a good result from tests in a few weeks so it’s really a waiting game, which is quite frustrating.

“He’s had heavy, intensive treatment but he’s maintaining his weight and things like that. The fact he’s well helps – we’ve been having a laugh and playing games so that’s a positive.

“I think it’s going to be a gradual thing for him to get back to normal but the longer it stays away, the better.” Eve added, “When I set up the fund-raising page, I was just trying to find a way to help.

“But never in a million years did I expect it to raise as much as it has.

“It is something that’s really helping his family and we are very lucky to have a community who are so kind. Samuel’s responding well to treatment and is the kindest, most beautiful boy and I’m sure he’ll pull through.” If you would like to donate to the fund for Samuel, please visit http://gogetfunding.com/project/fundraising-for-samuel-bernthal-1.