AN 11-year-old boy fighting an aggressive form of cancer thought he contracted the disease as punishment for misbehaving.
Benjamin Marsh, who has just started his first year at Winifred Holtby School in Bransholme, believed he contracted leukaemia because he had been naughty.
He has had chemotherapy and surgery and is taking steroids to help him stay alive.
Despite often being in pain, Benjamin has vowed to beat the disease so he can be a "normal kid" again.
Benjamin said: "I was sad when I found out I was ill because I thought it was because I had misbehaved. I wasn't sure what I had done wrong.
"I don't want to die and just want to be a normal kid.
"I won't give in until I win.
"If I can fight it then so can others. Will I beat cancer? Hell yeah!"
Benjamin lives at home with his mother Sara and father Tony in Cranbrook Avenue, north Hull.
After Benjamin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia nine months ago, he underwent several weeks of intensive treatment in Leeds General Infirmary.
Mrs Marsh said: "The life we used to have has ended for now.
"What hurts the most is that Benjamin was just starting to make the most of his childhood.
"Whatever happens now, he will never get a significant part of his childhood back.
"And there is nothing we could have done about it. Those first few weeks when Benjamin was fighting for his life were terrible.
"We just want other parents to be aware that this can happen at any moment. But it can be beaten and we will beat it, too.
"Benjamin is such a fighter and he has to do a lot of growing up. We are so proud of him."
Mr Marsh said the intensive treatments, which have led to Benjamin losing his hair twice, have been tough on his young son. He is still facing almost three more years of treatment and must travel to Leeds every fortnight.
Mr Marsh said: "It is quite a big deal for a young lad to lose his hair.
"Benjamin was an extremely active boy.
"At ten years old he was just beginning to gain independence.
"He had been given a mobile phone and he was often out and about with his mates.
"One day some of his friends pointed out he looked pale. There were no symptoms."
His parents then took him to see his GP for a check-up. During the appointment, Benjamin told the doctor his legs were sore.
He was referred to Hull Royal Infirmary and then to Leeds, where doctors revealed he was suffering from cancer and admitted him immediately.
Benjamin spent almost two months in hospital before being allowed to return home.
Mr Marsh said: "From that moment, our life has been a rollercoaster.
"It has been tough but our advice to anyone else who has to go through something like this is to not give up.
"You have to take it each hour at a time and then each day at a time.
"Any more than that and it feels like you are battling mission impossible."
Benjamin wears a hat during his studies at Winifred Holtby. Despite his condition, he has already excelled in maths and science.
Mrs Marsh said: "We never relax when Benjamin is at school because picking up something as little as a cold could prove devastating.
"Even if he has a temperature, he has to be taken to Leeds to be seen by experts. But it is all part of our battle against the disease. Losing is not an option."
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