Lottery winner's pride in generous son

Dec 8 2006 By The Journal

A lottery winner, whose son has been diagnosed with a brain tumour, yesterday spoke of his pride after the 11-year-old received an award for his bravery.

John Chapman's son, Brett, picked up a Brave Hearts Award and generously donated his cash prize to cancer wards at Newcastle General Hospital and the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

Brett, a pupil at The Chorister School in Durham, has undergone months of radio and chemotherapy after being struck down by the illness, but hospital staff, who nominated him for an award, yesterday said his "humour and courage had shone through" during his treatment.

His parents, John, 40, and Ashlie, 36, [correct], of Easington, County Durham, won £2,102,691, in November 1998, but said no amount of money could prepare them for their son's illness.

The couple watched Brett receive his award at yesterday's ceremony in Newcastle with their eight-year-son Tyler [correct] and one-year-old Corey[correct].

John, who owns Cliffy's [correct] pub in Easington with his wife, said he was "over the moon" his son had been rewarded for his bravery.

He said: "Brett's health has been up and down, but he always thinks of others.

"A few months ago, while he was undergoing his first course of treatment, he bought a teddy bear and raffled it off to raise £250 for the hospital."