GOSHxSuperhope | Meet Jake

Recently, nine patients undergoing treatment for cancer worked with Superhope, and by using the power of their imagination, had the opportunity to bring to life their inner superhero.

Every Saturday we will be spotlighting one of our superheroes and their amazing stories of courage and resilience. This #SuperSaturday, meet Jake, aka BatJake.

Jake was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer, in July 2017.

His treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) took over two years and three months. Jake has a string of beads called his "Beads of Courage," which weigh over 1.5kg, recording a visual and tactile timeline of hospital stays, chemotherapies, operations, blood tests, x-rays and other challenges that Jake has faced in his GOSH journey. Today, Jake is in remission and back at school.

According to his mum Hannah, Jake has remained “the same amazing, cheeky, wonderful boy that he’s always been” throughout his treatment.

“Jake is shy and reserved but very cheeky. He's awesome - he's been through a tonne of stuff over the last couple of years and is the most brave and resilient kid you'll ever meet," his mum, Hannah, explains.

"For Jake, hospital's not somewhere he's worried or sad about coming to. It's where his medicine happens, but it's also where amazing things like Superhope happen," Hannah continues. "We've been really lucky in our time at GOSH to come across some of these amazing projects. We met an astronaut a few years ago, and Jake drew a picture that was going to go to space.

"Projects like Superhope are important to patients like Jake, because their condition takes so much of their childhood away from them. To put some of that magic back is great. It means that for Jake, hospital isn't somewhere he's worried or sad about coming to. It's where his medicine happens, but it's also where amazing things like Superhope happen.

"Somehow GOSH seem to just pull out the bag unique experiences that go beyond what we could create to keep Jake positive during his hospital stays. Even if we came up with the idea to turn him into a superhero for a day, it never would've gone to the same lengths that Superhope has managed to go to - with his tailor made superhero outfit, the films and the photos. It's awesome."

"We got into Superhope as Jake was coming to the end of his treatment. He really enjoyed the creative process of designing his own costume and thinking about what superpowers he wanted. Spending time at GOSH has meant that he's had a lot of time to develop his imagination, think and play.

"Jake wanted to be a goodie and not a baddie. He liked the idea of being able to run up buildings and look after the other kids, say hello and see how everyone was doing.

"He's always been very kind and thoughtful as a kid. Thinking about others, and wanting to help. His imaginative superpowers reflect this well."