Family 'humbled' as volunteers fix roof to help Ben

The family of a young boy with a serious illness have thanked the volunteers who carried out crucial repairs to their home in their hour of need.

Richard and Alison's son Ben was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukaemia in 2022 when he was just five.

Richard, who was trying to renovate the family's "forever home" in Selby, North Yorkshire, became overwhelmed by the prospect of trying to fix the property's leaky roof, which posed a serious health risk to Ben.

But with the help of the charity Band of Builders, 12 roofers from across the country rode to the rescue and completed the job for no fee in just three days.

The organisation offers help and support to tradespeople across the UK, including carrying out home adaptations and building work.

Landscape gardener Richard said trying to fix the roof himself as he juggled caring for Ben, who was undergoing daily chemotherapy in Sheffield, and work had become an "impossible battle" that was "soul-destroying".

Doctors warned the family that damp and mould in the house would be dangerous for Ben who, three years on from his diagnosis, is now in remission.

Speaking to BBC Look North, Richard said: "In the early days when Ben was diagnosed, we were in survival mode and we had this strength to keep going. We were inspired by Ben and all his resilience to go through this treatment at just five years old.

"It was only when things started to stabilise and Ben started to get better that the house started to take over, and that became the big demon that we had to fight."

The family bought their home in 2021, with Richard initially happy to get stuck into carrying out repairs and upgrades.

But as the toll on him grew, Sheffield Children's Hospital pointed the family towards Band of Builders, who Richard described as "unbelievable".

"Before we knew it, they were here with a huge team of volunteers who had given up their time and materials to come here, to complete strangers, and put a new roof on the house," he said.

"It's humbling. I didn't think this kind of thing happened to normal people. It's something you see on TV. I'm overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness."

Now in better health, Ben said he was looking forward to spending more time with his dad.

"I'm excited about playing games with him and him being around, and now he doesn't have to hammer things in the room," Ben said.

"He can now just sit on the sofa and relax."

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