Three-year-old Billy Hayes bravely fought an aggressive cancer after his shock diagnosis last year
Oscar Fisher Trainee Reporter
10:03, 21 Dec 2025
Thousands of pounds have been raised to create a bravery box in Billy’s name(Image: Supplied)
A Forest-mad toddler whose courageous cancer battle earned him a video message from his “friend” Morgan Gibbs-White has been remembered for his incredible bravery following his tragic death earlier this year.
Billy Hayes was just two years old when he became unwell during a family holiday in Turkey last autumn, which his parents, Sarah and Phil, initially assumed was just a bug.
When they returned to their home in Mountsorrel, Leicestershire, the pair became concerned after multiple trips to A&E, none of which resulted in answers or a solution.
The following week, Billy told his parents that his legs didn’t work and that he couldn’t walk, and they found themselves living every parent’s worst nightmare after their next visit to the doctors.
He was diagnosed with stage four high-risk neuroblastoma on November 19, 2024, and immediately underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy.
Things were looking up for Billy, and they were told that scans showed he was close to being in remission.
But then things took a turn for the worse, as there were still patches of disease in his body, and he had to undergo another four rounds of chemotherapy, combined with immunotherapy.
Billy brought smiles to the faces of so many people at ward E39(Image: Supplied)
“For three rounds he improved significantly, but the scans after the fourth round showed that the disease had progressed – and we were told there was a very slim chance he could now be cured,” said Sarah, who holds a season ticket alongside Phil at the City Ground.
“We wanted to try everything, so we tried a further three rounds of chemotherapy drugs, but the disease continued to progress.
“At this point, we entered a clinical trial, another round of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but he was too poorly, and the disease had spread too far.”
Speaking on the last 15 months, Sarah added: “We always held on to hope.
“Even in the last weeks, I still felt something would turn around for Billy. I was very conscious that the way I conducted myself and my emotions would be picked up by Billy and his brother Jack.
“So, I held my head high and remained unshakeably positive throughout. I never wanted them to have any worry.
“I felt that there was nothing I could do to influence the treatment, but I could positively impact his wellbeing – and that could be a factor to helping his body fight the disease and keep him smiling.
“We were heavily supported by the boys’ grandparents, aunties and uncle and cousins and friends too.”
During his time at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, Billy could often be seen wearing his Forest shirt, putting smiles on people’s faces at the ward, and his bravery was even noticed by his hero at Forest, Morgan Gibbs-White.
The Reds’ number 10 sent a video message to young Billy, something which meant the world to the whole family, especially due to Phil’s dedication to the club, having held his season ticket for more than 35 years.
Billy lost his battle with neuroblastoma on September 17, aged just three.
“I can’t really take any comfort from any of it,” added Sarah. “There are just no words to describe how hard that period of time was.
“I was so scared. All we could do was be brave and know we did everything possible for him.
“After Billy passed away, I wanted to create a legacy for him. We had gifts given which always perked Billy up, and when we were in hospital, the hospital play team – and the receptionist, Paul – were so special to us.
“Billy loved them and looked forward to going to the hospital to see them. They do all sorts of activities with the children and really put smiles on their faces.”
Sarah wanted to help the team in some way, so she had the idea of creating ‘Billy’s Bravery Box’. She added: “I had the idea of a bravery box because I wanted something to be able to celebrate milestones in treatment.
“There is a bell for children who complete treatment, which we never got to ring, but there are so many small achievements that I felt could be recognised through the bravery box.
“It could be something as small as having an injection that they were scared to have; these were the things that Billy hated the most – he called them the hurty things – or finishing a round of treatment.
“Or, generally, if the children had been upset, they’d be able to pick something from the bravery box, which might turn their day around.
“I’d like to stock it with different toys, crafts and games and use the money to keep it topped up.
“Perhaps stickers and certificates, too. Unless you’ve spent time on a children’s cancer ward, you’d never know the level of bravery of these little children, and I think they deserve to be recognised for that.”
Billy’s Bravery Box campaign has already seen nearly £10,000 donated to ward E39 at QMC, and despite “stirring up a lot of emotions” for Sarah, she says she’s doing it because she “feels so passionately” about “supporting the children and families that are walking the same path as we did.”
Kirsty Hodgkinson, who worked with Billy on ward E39, has spoken out about “beautiful” Billy, adding that he “brought so much joy and laughter” to staff on the ward.
“He made us laugh so much, and I actually named him Arthur – as in ‘half a job’ – because he would often ask me to do painting or Lego, and then after a few minutes he would get bored and say ‘you do it’.
“I was on shift that day, and after he passed away, I supported the family and stayed with him, holding his hand, talking to him and put his favourite programme, Bluey, on.
“The bravery box that Phil, Sarah and Jack are fundraising for to provide for our ward in memory of Billy will bring so much joy and happiness for our patients and families going forward, while remembering Billy’s legacy.
“From the moment the families come onto the ward, we are an emotional support for not just the patients, but the families as well.
“When they have been dealt with devastating news that turns their lives upside down, we are often one of the first people to make contact and continue to follow up on that support right to the very end, whether the outcome Is positive or not.”
Anyone wishing to donate to Billy’s Bravery Box can do so by clicking the link here.
