A CHILL room for patients has been unveiled thanks to a leukaemia fighter whose family raised more than £12,500 for the ward on which he was treated.

Ollie Bibby, 25, from Benfleet, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2016, which is a cancer of the white blood cells.

After being rushed to Southend Hospital, he was transferred to University College Hospital London (UCLH), where he underwent chemotherapy.

Thankfully, Ollie went into remission six months later, when the family – mum Penny, 53, dad Simon, 54, and brothers Sam, 27, Casey, 21, and Ronnie, 17, all launched a fundraising campaign for the Haematology Cancer Care Unit at UCLH, where Ollie was treated.

Family, friends and the Benfleet community all helped donate, with The Bread and Cheese pub hosting several fundraisers, including raffles and fun days.

Mum Penny said: “It was an awful experience; really a nightmare.

“Raising this money really helped get us through. Everybody at UCLH was amazing; the staff, the patients, just everyone. We miss them now.

“People felt like they could finally do something to support us while Ollie was having his treatment.”

After a successful campaign, the funds raised, alongside donations from Haematology Cancer Care and the Teenage Cancer Trust, went towards a chill room – a young adult living room where patients can relax and socialise.

Mrs Bibby said: “While Ollie was in there, there was no meeting place for young people or a place where they could go to socialise and chat. Other patient’s families also helped to donate.

“Ollie pitched the idea first to his support worker and, after the grand opening, now there’s somewhere the patients can go.

“He was really overwhelmed and pleased patients can finally benefit. We never thought it would happen.”

What once was a small bathroom has been transformed into a social space, holding a sofa, large TV, a PlayStation and a kitchen area, where patients can enjoy hot drinks and snacks.

A patient who currently is receiving care on the ward, cut the ribbon to officially launch the room at the grand opening.

Grateful for the help the family received, mum Penny added: “It really does change your life going through something like this. Thank you to everyone who supported us while Ollie was going through treatment, and for everyone who made this possible, we couldn’t have done it without local support.”

The family continue to raise money for those who helped them along the way, including CLIC Sargent, which gave them a place to stay while Ollie received treatment.

Penny now runs the Oncology Parents Support Group UK (ParentsUnit) for parents whose children are going through cancer treatment. You can find them on Facebook.