Leeds United captain Liam Cooper's heartfelt video message to three-year-old Wakefield boy with terminal brain cancer

Laura Pearman wants to make the last few months of her son Ellis Price's life as happy as she possibly can as she provides palliative care for him at her family's home at Horbury near Wakefield.

Laura, 35, said Ellis may be too ill to enjoy Christmas by December so her family plans to celebrate on Tuesday September 8 with a big Christmas tree and presents for him,.

A Facebook appeal has been launched for people to send Leeds United fan Ellis a Christmas card via Horbury Post Office along with an appeal for people to send him a present via an Amazon gift list.

Leeds United captain Liam Cooper and former United star Jermaine Beckford have sent their best wishes to Ellis in video messages sent to his family via social media.

Liam Cooper said in his video:"Just a quick message from me and all the boys. We are so proud of you, the way you are fighting.

"So keep smiling, keep fighting, you are doing an amazing job. I'm sending all my love from me, the boys and staff and everybody at Leeds United.

"Stick in there little man, we love you."

Jermaine Beckford said in his video message: "I just want you to know we are all thinking about you mate.

"You are being super strong and super brave. We are really proud of you alright mate, key fighting, keep strong."

Ellis was diagnosed with rare ETMR brain cancer last October.

He has undergone two lengthy operations on the cancerous tumour at Leeds Children's Hospital as well as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Tragically, Laura was told in July that the cancer has spread and Ellis only had up to six months left to live.

Ellis's fourth birthday will be on January 5 2021, but Laura held an early superhero themed birthday party for him in July when he was well enough to enjoy it.

And she plans to hold Christmas celebrations with Ellis and his sisters Caitlin, 15 and Alana, 10, and Ellis's stepdad Ashley Pearman, 33.

Laura said: "He is always happy. No matter what he has been through for the past year, he has always kept smiling and wanting to have fun. He is always cuddling and kissing."

Leeds United fan Darren Powell's fundraising team The Kews raised £500 for Ellis during a charity match v Hall Green United last month.

Laura thanked the teams for the kind gesture and said the cash will help pay for the early Christmas celebrations.

Laura said Ellis was a healthy two-year-old when he suddenly fell ill on September 13 last year.

She took Ellis to A&E at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield after suspecting he had an ear infection when he was sick and became unsteady on his feet.

A CT scan revealed an 8cm x 5cm brain tumour and Ellis was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary.

An MRI scan revealed the tumour was cancerous and on October 2 Ellis underwent a 15-hour operation when surgeons removed the majority of the tumour.

On October 16 Laura was told that Ellis was suffering from ETMR brain cancer.

She said: "It broke my heart. They explained to me that there wasn't much chance of survival. "

Ellis underwent three weeks of chemotherapy before another scan revealed the tumour had started to grow again.

He had an 11-hour operation on March 18 followed by radiotherapy treatment every day in May.

Laura said the latest scan in July revealed the cancer had spread in Ellis's brain and into his spine.

Laura said: "We had a couple of weeks where he stayed relatively well and I have chosen to do palliative care at home so we don't have to go to a hospital or a hospice.

"He is happy. He is still smiling and trying to talk and laugh. He is watching films and reading books."

Anyone wanting to send Ellis a Christmas card is asked to post it to Ellis The Hero, Horbury Post Office, 34 Queen Street, Horbury, Wakefield, WF4 6LP.

For more information on how to send Ellis a gift via Amazon, go to www.ellisthehero.com