Skip to main content

Together we are beating cancer

Donate now

Cancer News

The latest news, analysis and opinion from Cancer Research UK

  • Charity News
  • Personal Stories

‘Courage Looks Like Me’ – Joseph Coelho composes poem inspired by the words of children affected by cancer

by Amy Warnock | Personal stories

4 December 2024

0 comments 0 comments

facebook icon twitter icon linkedin icon
Headshot of poet and author Joseph Aaron Coelho OBE FRSL
Joseph Aaron Coelho OBE FRSL, has published a special poem to mark the launch of our Star Awards

Renowned children’s poet and author, Joseph Aaron Coelho OBE FRSL, has published a special poem inspired by children from across the UK who shared their cancer stories. 

The poem was written to mark the launch of this year’s Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards – an award series that recognises the incredible courage shown by children and young people in the face of cancer.  

Watch Joseph Coelho read the poem below, or see below for full poem text.

In order to write the poem, which is poignantly named Courage Looks Like Me, the former Children’s Laureate heard from a group of children including Saif (8), Lily (8), Benny (9), Fearne (5) and Stanley (5). They have all been affected by cancer and shared what the word ‘courage’ looked and felt like to them. 

Saif’s story

Saif, a young boy with an artificial limb holding a sign that says 'gladiators, swords, shields'
One of Saif’s contributions to the poem was: “Courage is the sound of gladiator’s swords and shields bashing each other, battling to survive.”

Saif was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, in December 2021 after a tumour the size of a golf ball was found growing in his knee. Sadly, he had to have his leg amputated. He also had chemotherapy of methotrexate, doxorubicin and cisplatin. 

Now in remission, Saif is determined to play football, learn to run on his blade and ensure his amputation does not stop him from achieving his goals.  

“It meant a lot to be part of the poem. Saif was keen to think of the words and it was actually fun to do,” said Romana, Saif’s mum.  

“It allowed him to explore his experience in his own way and in his own words, and gave him space to speak about his journey and say how he really feels. We might assume children think the same as we do, but they don’t. This poem helped him to express himself and what he has been through.” 

Our involvement in cisplatin 

We played an important role in the clinical trials of cisplatin, a type of chemotherapy used to treat many different types of cancer including osteosarcoma.  

After its initial discovery and development by several US groups, we supported early clinical trials of cisplatin in people with cancer in the 1970s. This included trials at the Royal Marsden, led by Dr Eve Wiltshaw.   

Lily, a young girl, holding a sign that says 'A lion's roar!'
When asked what courage sounds like, Lily said: “A lions roar!”

Lily’s story 

Lily was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer, earlier this year. 

She has had both chemotherapy and immunotherapy to treat her cancer.  

Lily’s mum, Kate said, “Lily has been so brave and cheerful throughout her treatment. She’s had to suffer two operations on her leg due to an MRSA infection and extensive physio to learn to walk again.  

“Thank you so much for the star award for Lily, she was so excited to receive her pack and is proud to wear the t-shirt.” 

Benny’s story 

Benny, a young boy with dark hair, stands holding a sign that says 'moves like a bird'
Benny said courage "moves like a bird"

Benny was just six years old when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in September 2022. He started treatment the next day.  

“He lost his hair twice during chemo and it was a constant level of anxiety for us because getting a normal childhood infection can be very dangerous for him due to his immunity being so low,” said Benny’s mum, Anna. 

“But he just got on with it, he’s a very chilled out and resilient child. He would have chemo in the day and ask to go to beavers that night.” 

Benny recently had his last monthly intravenous chemo and rang the bell to mark the end of treatment at the end of November.  

Fearne’s story

Fearne stands holding a sign that says 'Swooooosh like a superhero'
When asked what sound courage would make, Fearne said: “Swooooosh like a superhero”

Fearne was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in April 2023, after falling seriously unwell and showing symptoms including bruises, pain in her legs and exhaustion.  

Fearne was in hospital for six weeks at the start of her treatment and is now enrolled on the UK arm of the Cancer Research UK funded AllTogether-1 trial. This trial is looking at different combinations of chemotherapy treatment for children, teenagers and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who have different risk factors, to see which treatments work better and have fewer side effects.  

“Fearne had beautiful long hair when she was diagnosed and we had to explain to her that the chemotherapy treatment she needed meant that she would lose her hair,” said Gary, Fearne’s dad.  

“We thought Fearne would be very upset but actually she adapted well. When she felt well enough Fearne was first in the playroom at hospital and we decided early on that if Fearne was fine then we had to be too. There were a few wobbles of confidence but Fearne took on everything that was thrown at her and mostly with a smile.”    

Fearne is scheduled to complete her chemotherapy in June 2025.  

Our research into acute lymphoblastic leukaemia  

We’ve done lots of research into acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, including discovering a link to the gut microbiome. 

We also helped fund a groundbreaking trial of a drug called mitoxantrone, showing how it could dramatically improve survival in children whose acute lymphoblastic leukaemia has returned.  

This revolutionised the way children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia are treated.  

Stanley stands holding a sign that says 'A karate chop - POW!'
When asked what sound courage would make, Stanley said "Pow, like a karate chop!"

Stanley’s story 

Stanley was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumour, a type of kidney cancer that affects children, in February 2023.  

He had surgery to have the tumour and his left kidney removed. This was followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.  

Stanley’s mum, Sadie said, “Although he’s been extremely poorly, he’s been the bravest, strongest and most determined little boy. He is so resilient – he amazes me and keeps us going.”  

Stanley finished his chemotherapy near the end of 2023 and received one of our star awards for his courage in facing cancer.   

Our involvement in radiotherapy 

We’ve been a key player in making radiotherapy the mainstream cancer treatment it is today.  

For more than a century, we’ve supported doctors, physicists and radiologists to establish the principles of radiotherapy and its application to the clinic. Our researchers helped to build understanding on how to measure radiotherapy doses and how cells respond to radiation. 

A deep well of experience 

Although Joseph frequently works with young people across the country, inspiring them to engage with poetry, this project is the first time the poet has worked with children who have been diagnosed with cancer. 

“The children blew me away,” he said.   

“It was very easy to incorporate their answers to some of my questions into the poem because they’re all poets. They came up with some beautifully poetic, sincere, emotive language that was a pleasure and a joy to use within the poem. 

“I was hearing stories and reading words and ideas that came from a deep well of experience and they were willing to talk about their strengths and their challenges, and about the difficult times as well. And I think that’s a particularly difficult thing for any of us to do- to talk about the times where we’ve been vulnerable. And they were very generous with talking about those instances- so I was really grateful for that.” 

The Star Awards 

The Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People Star Awards, which are run in partnership with TK Maxx, are open to all children in the UK who are under 18 and have been treated for cancer in the last five years. 

They are not a competition, and every eligible child nominated will receive an award.  

“The Star Awards are a brilliant initiative and I’m proud that our poem can play a part in raising awareness of them – and recognise more children for their courage and resilience in the face of cancer,” said Joseph. 

Joseph Coelho writes his poem on a piece of paper

Find out more about the Star Awards and how to nominate

Our Star Awards

Courage Looks Like Me 

By Joseph Coelho 

Courage feels like a fully charged battery
living on the edge of uncertainty.
Courage is being my best for my future self
and that courage looks like me.

Courage is a battle of gladiators,
their swords clashing to be free.
Courage rumbles like a lion’s ROAR
and that courage looks like me.

Courage is the smooth and bump of a scar
a story told across my family.
Courage can be strong, calm and quiet
and that courage looks like me.  

Courage is the glide of a summer bird
flying miles over land and sea.
Courage soars in every tear I make
and that courage looks like me.  

Courage can feel bouncy,
fear is part of bravery.
Courage is breathing through every shake
and that courage looks like me.

Courage thrums in every part of you
and every part of me.
Courage is there when it gets too much
and that courage looks like me. 

Courage is the SWOOSH of a superhero
making every villain flee,
courage is a POW and a karate chop!
and that courage looks like me.   

Whatever the battle, I’ll take the charge
I’ll ROAR with friends and family.
I’ll gently glide over all bumpy ground
because courage looks like me. 

Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People 

Cancer Research UK for Children & Young People is the part of Cancer Research UK dedicated to driving progress for 0-24-year-olds with cancer.  

As the biggest charitable funder of research into children’s and young people’s cancers in the UK, we have played a role in around half of the world’s cancer drugs considered essential for children. More than 9 in 10 children and young people with cancer who receive cancer drugs in the UK receive a drug linked to our work.  

Together with our partners and supporters, we’re driving forward progress to ensure more children and young people can live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.    

Tell us what you think

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read our comment policy.

Highlighted content

More like this

Related topics

A group of killer T cells (green and red) surrounding a cancer cell (blue, center).

Sign up to our newsletter

Subscribe now

Tell us what you think

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Read our comment policy.