Cancer boy's stories help charity

Sam Viney raised money for Cancer Research UK by selling his book

A nine-year-old boy who survived life-threatening cancer has written two books to raise cash for a charity.

Sam Viney was given a 25% chance of survival when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer when he was just 18 months old.

But Sam, from the Vale of Glamorgan, survived after months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.

Sam has now just finished writing his second story and will again give the proceeds to Cancer Research UK.

The idea of writing the first book, The Lost Egg, was developed with his tutor, who is also a cancer survivor.

Sam, from Peterston-super-Ely, has handed over the £200 proceeds to the Cancer Research UK charity at an event at Velindre Hospital in Cardiff where he had some of his treatment.

"I didn't want to keep it as I would have lots of money," he said.

"Because I had cancer, I wanted to help other people with cancer.

Sam said he sold his first book to pupils, teachers and parents at school, and to other friends.

Sam Viney has written two books with the help of his tutor

"I was selling it for 50p but some people have given more, and two of my parents' friends gave me some more money as long as their pets were featured in the next book, and they are!" he said.

Sam's tutor Mavis Ingram, who helped him catch up with his school work after his illness, said her pupil was very enthusiastic about his books.

"I like to capture the imagination of the children and Sam has very creative ideas so I suggested the book as a way to get them down on paper and help his grammar, vocabulary and punctuation," said Mrs Ingram.

"It all started when he saw an egg at the museum.

"It is a detective story but the second book is more of a comedy.

"His sense of humour comes out."

Sam had neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that affects children, mostly under the age of five.

His mother Janet Viney said she hoped his second book, The Dinosaur's Egg which has been illustrated by his grandfather, would be another hit.

"We are very proud that he wrote the book and he decided he wanted to sell it to raise money for Cancer Research UK," she said.