FOUR-year-old William Atkinson loves Christmas and adores receiving mail - so getting Christmas cards in the post is an extra special treat.

This brave little boy, who has been battling Leukaemia for a year and a half, is set for a bumper crop of Christmas post this year - with a bit of help from you.

William's gran Kathy Atkinson is making contact with people around the world - as well as in their local community in Swanage and beyond - and asking them to send him their good wishes in Christmas cards.

"We are asking people to send their support - their compassion and their good wishes - to William in a Christmas card," she added. "He loves it when the post comes - he will be so excited when all the cards come through the door for him. We would also like to keep these cards for him for when he is older so that he can see how people from all over the world cared."

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His mum Eliana added: "Cancer can be a lonely journey. William's immune system is very low - he spends a lot of time isolated at home. He can't even have visitors most of the time which is very difficult. Getting post is so exciting for him. It's someone saying - we know about you and you're not alone."

She said the card campaign is also a way to spread the word about childhood cancers.

William was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in May last year aged two years 10 months. He has undergone daily chemotherapy and will continue to do so until November 2017.

The gruelling treatment has many side effects, including on his development, sleep, speech and particularly on his walking for which he will need corrective surgery in the future.

His condition has meant a great deal of time in hospital, taking him and his mother away from the rest of the family. Eliana asked if anyone sending cards could also mention William's seven-year-old brother Gary, who has "been very brave" throughout.

She added: "We don't know what the future holds - we don't know what will happen tomorrow - but when William is well we try to make the most of it. We want him to have a magical Christmas."

Send cards to William Atkinson at 16 Alderbury Close, Swanage, BH19 2SN