A St Neots schoolboy and aspiring Paralympic dressage rider has been recognised with a special national award, after a cancer diagnosis changed his life.

Dylan Ward, aged eight, found out he had Ewing sarcoma – a type of tumour found in the bone or soft tissue – in July 2022.

Each year in the UK around 25 children are diagnosed with Ewing bone tumours or related bone sarcomas.

Now, for the courage he showed throughout his treatment, Dylan – a pupil at Eynesbury CofE Primary School - has received a Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Award.

Every child nominated receives the accolade, which is backed by a host of famous faces, including celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli, TV personality Dr Ranj and children’s TV favourite Mister Maker.

The Hunts Post: St Neots schoolboy and aspiring Paralympic dressage rider Dylan Ward received the Cancer Research

As well as a star shaped trophy, Dylan received a £50 TK Maxx gift card, t-shirt and a certificate signed by the celebrities.

Superstar Dylan used some of his TK Maxx vouchers on a Marvel cap – an apt choice, as the comic book and film brand focuses on inspirational superheroes.

Dylan’s mum, Jess Flack, 32, said: “We were in and out of hospital from October 2021 due to misdiagnosis.

“Unfortunately, because of this, his main mass was huge, taking up the whole of his left hip and making it inoperable. It had also spread to his lungs.”

Dylan underwent 14 courses of chemotherapy, six weeks of proton beam therapy on his hip and two weeks of radiotherapy on his lungs.

He is now having a year of oral chemotherapy, due to end in March.

The Hunts Post: Dylan Ward with his star award

Jess said: “Dylan spent Christmas and New Year in University College London Hospital for treatment away from his family, and his eighth birthday in February hooked up to a chemo pump in Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

“Not once has he complained, not once has he stopped smiling and not once has he stopped loving, caring and riding his ponies – Pepper, Inki, Karuso and McFlurry – working towards his dream of being an international para dressage rider.”

Dylan has been left with some severe disabilities on his left side and will have to use crutches for the rest of his life.

Remarkably, not only has he qualified for the Riding for the Disabled Association National Championship in July – just a year after his diagnosis – but he came away as grade six canter freestyle national champion, a category contested by both children and adults.

Jess, who has worked with horses most of her life, posted at the time on an Instagram account. Dylan’s story has inspired almost 27,000 followers.

She said: “All I cared about was my amazing little man having a brilliant time. We didn’t come for rosettes, neither did we expect to receive any, but we ended up coming home with an armful of them.”

So how does Dylan’s Star Award rank among his riding awards?

“He loves it,” said Jess. “It makes him feel really special and it’s on a shelf in his bedroom.”

Jess – who lost both her grandads to cancer, with the disease also affecting her granny and an aunt – continued: “Research is hugely important.

“The treatment regime Dylan’s been on had only just come into use a year prior, thanks to research.

“We do as much as we can to help, so we opted in to support the research nurses at Addenbrooke’s, and we try to raise awareness and funds for Cancer Research UK and similar causes.

“I’ve done Race for Life in the past and other family members have done the Shine Night Walk.”

To nominate a star visit cruk.org/starawards