Former West Ham captain Declan Rice has made a generous donation to one of the club’s academy stars who is battling a rare form of brain cancer.
Goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, 14, who has been on West Ham’s books since the age of nine, was diagnosed with an ependymoma brain tumour in August 2023. He has since undergone seven operations as well as a round each of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Fairs has now been accepted into a medulloblastoma European multitarget metronomic antiangiogenic (MEMMAT) trial in Lille, and his family are aiming to raise £100,000 for the treatment.
Rice has made a sizeable contribution towards this target, having donated £5,000 to Fairs.
Like Fairs, Rice also came through West Ham’s academy, although he joined the club at a later stage after being released by Chelsea as a teenager.
Former West Ham captain Declan Rice has made a donation to an academy star battling cancer
West Ham goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, 14, (pictured) was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year
He has had seven operations, and Rice has now made a £5,000 donation to help him get further treatment in Lille, France
He made his senior debut in 2017 and went on to captain the club to Europa Conference League glory last year.
Just weeks after that triumph, he left the club to join Arsenal for a club-record transfer fee of £105m.
He was booed by some supporters on his return to the London Stadium last season, but scored a stunning goal in a 6-0 win for Arsenal. He refused to celebrate the goal as a mark of respect to his former club.
Despite the boos, West Ham still appear to have a special place in Rice’s heart, with the Arsenal midfielder making a touching donation in the hope of helping one of their academy players in their fight against cancer.
Fairs has also received donations from West Ham co-owner David Sullivan (£10,000), ex-West Ham winger Robert Snodgrass (£1,000) and current Irons defender Kortney Hause (£500).
Rice joined Arsenal last year, but West Ham still appear to have a special place in his heart
Fairs’ mother Natalie has thanked Rice and Co for their generous contributions to her son’s treatment fund.
‘I can’t find words big enough or strong enough [to reflect] the huge generosity from people,’ she told the Essex Echo.
‘It is such an overwhelming sight to see the figures. Our children are our future.
‘People not known to us – but strangers, donating their vital funds to support us. With lumps in my throat and tears down my face, I can’t thank them enough – they are supporting my baby.’
