A YOUNG boy diagnosed with three brain tumours when he was juts 10-months-old will attempt a sponsored three-mile solo paddle challenge from Caldey Island to Tenby harbour next month.

Eleven-year-old Asher Jenkin Jones is scheduled to take on the paddle board fundraiser into Tenby’s historic harbour on July 16, having only taken up the sport a year ago but he has a point to prove!

Asher was diagnosed with three brain tumours when he was 10-months-old, receiving treatment at the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre in Nottingham, with major surgery to remove one tumour, followed by three years of chemotherapy.

His brain tumours have left him with a severe visual impairment but nothing stops him living life to the full enjoying fun activities like skiing and judo. He has also recently started playing goalball.

Asher, who is a pupil at The Elms School in Long Eaton, explained: “I want to show everyone that people who have disabilities can do great things too, and I want to encourage other people who have my kind of disability to try new things. I don’t want people to underestimate what I can do.

“Not falling into the water is going to be the hardest thing, but I’ve been practicing and I’m just looking forward to doing it now.”

Asher is raising money for three charities close to his heart - the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Royal National Institute of Blind People and the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre at The University of Nottingham, where he received his treatment.

A number of companies have already committed to helping Asher achieve his goal, including Origin paddleboards, National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham, Honda Power, and wetsuit specialists HUUB Design.

“Asher amazes everyone he meets and people see his amazing abilities rather than his disabilities - what he can do not what he can’t do,” said his dad Tony.

“In fact, because of his positive attitude and bubbly personality, they soon forget he has a disability at all. He has a host of interests and has just got a distinction in his guitar exams. Nothing holds this boy back. He doesn’t accept his boundaries.

“Early diagnosis of children’s brain tumours is critical and could be the crucial difference between either losing your children or getting effective treatment which could lead to a good quality of life.

“We were fortunate enough to have had an early diagnosis and I’m sure that has had an enormous impact on Asher’s life.

“Treatment ensured that the brain tumour stopped growing and is not currently life-threatening, but we couldn’t save much of his sight.”

“The HeadSmart Campaign, which was pioneered by David Walker, Professor of Paediatric Oncology and Co-Director of the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre (CBTRC), has been critical in promoting the need for this early diagnosis. If it wasn’t for the work of Professor Walker and his team at the CBTRC, I’m not sure this challenge would have been possible,” added Tony.

Asher concluded: “I’d like to help as many people as I possibly can. By supporting me on my challenge you’ll be helping people with disabilities, which is a good thing, and that will make a very big difference. Doing this it may get people talking about children with disabilities and what we are capable of achieving.”

You can find details of Asher’s charity challenge at www.facebook.com/asherpaddleboardchallenge/