Five-year-old Alvie Wright, from Cottesmore, receives medal from Little Troopers charity after being diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma tumour

A ‘little trooper’ who was diagnosed with a brain tumour the size of a tennis ball has been awarded a medal for his bravery.

Five-year-old Alvie Wright, from Cottesmore, was a normal, happy two-year-old when he began experiencing loss of function on the left side of his body.

A GP told his family it was a a shoulder spasm due to a trapped nerve, but by March 2024 Alvie’s symptoms had worsened, and he was rushed to A&E when he stopped being able to pick things up after losing function in his little finger and ring finger, while his arm began to “hang down”.

He was quickly given an MRI, and he was diagnosed with pilocytic astrocytoma, a tumour located on the top of his spine and attached to his brain.

Alvie was then rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, a leading centre for brain tumour care, and underwent an emergency operation to remove the tumour on April 2 2024. Sadly, only 50 percent was able to be taken out safely.

Just three months after the operation, the family were devastated to find out the tumour had grown even bigger than its original size, to the size of a tennis ball.

Alvie was immediately put on an 18-month chemotherapy trial in August 2024, and after nine months, the tumour is shrinking and stable, smaller than it was when they took half of it out, but he will live with the tumour for the rest of his life and will need scans every three months to determine if he will need more treatment.

Alvie’s mum, Danielle Wright, 36, said that the family is hopeful and that Alvie is a “really brave boy”.

“He’s only been admitted to hospital twice since he started his treatment with side effects, which is great, but it is hard taking him to chemotherapy on my own sometimes when his dad is away. We were in a settled routine before he was poorly but having a poorly child can make that routine more difficult. His school is very supportive and he has a good teacher who makes him feel normal.”

On top of his year-long battle with chemotherapy, Alvie’s dad, Sgt Steven Wright, who is serving in the British Army, was away on various exercises, including six months in Mali.

To recognise his bravery, Alvie has received a medal, as well as a gift voucher and certificate from the charity, and been named Little Trooper of the Month by Little Troopers, a charity which supports children with one or both parents serving in the British Armed Forces.

The charity provides resources for use at home and in school, as well as running special projects such as family reconnection weekends and a dedicated therapy programme.

Alvie, who has a 16-year-old brother and a 12-year-old sister, has grown up on the barracks where his dad serves, and is now in reception at the primary school which is on the barracks for the children of Service families.

Danielle, who is a preschool worker, said: “Alvie has been super brave and is still going to school, only missing it when he has chemotherapy. He’s really soldiered through everything and I’m so proud of him.

“Alvie was so excited to find out he’d won a medal. Having a brain tumour while also not having his dad here every day has been hard, Alvie is a huge daddy’s boy so he misses him loads. We’re so grateful to Little Troopers, to see him recognised for everything he’s going through. He really is a brave little trooper.”

Alvie said that he loved his medal as it is “just like his daddy’s”, who he misses a lot when he is in hospital.

“I enjoyed showing it [the medal] to my friends,” he said, “I'm so proud of myself now.

“We do lots of things together like playing Minecraft, so when he’s not at the hospital with me it’s hard to play.”

Louise Fetigan, founder of Little Troopers, said: “We were so moved when we read Alvie’s story, and we knew he had to be our latest Little Trooper of the Month. He has been through so much and all while missing his dad who’s been away for long periods of time.

“He has shown so much strength and bravery throughout his treatment. We hope he wears her Little Troopers medal with pride and looks forward to showing it to his friends at school.”