Holly Willoughby supports her lifelong friend as she discusses son’s cancer battle

Holly Willoughby supported her friend as she appeared on This Morning to discuss her son’s cancer battle. 

The presenter, 41, asked pal Hannah Peckham about the charity campaign she started when her four-year-old son Bodhi was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

The viral challenge sees participants wear a pair of pants on their head, with Holly and Phillip Schofield happy to take part and pose on the show. 

British author Hannah Peckham – who is also the step-sister of Zoe Ball – began the #pantstoleaukaemia movement while four-year-old Bodhi was undergoing grueling treatment for cancer.

‘For me, as a mum, having to give him chemo and thinking “Gosh, I have no control over this”,’ she told This Morning. ‘To feel like I can help…’

The idea came about when her toddler was stuck in hospital undergoing treatment instead of celebrating his birthday.

Struggle: Discussing her son’s diagnosis, Hannah revealed that she became concerned that Bodhi appeared to be always ill and struggled to catch his breath

However, instead of being discouraged, little Bodhi was running around, naked, with his underpants on his head.

‘Although he’s been through this…he’s just…a little ray of sunshine,’ Hannah gushed.

Discussing her son’s diagnosis, Hannah revealed that she became concerned that Bodhi appeared to be always ill and struggled to catch his breath. 

Holly recalled: ‘I remember, we were talking at that time and you said, “It’s just one thing after another,” he keeps getting one virus and then another one.’

Looking good: The viral challenge sees participants wear a pair of pants on their head, with Holly and Phillip happy to take part and pose on the show

Discussing the emotional moment she learnt that her son had leukaemia, Hannah who is the step sister of Zoe Ball, said: ‘I literally just wanted to leave my body. 

‘It’s like I’m looking down on myself and I can see myself in the room with the two doctors there and I just wanted to escape but I knew that I just had to for Bodhi. 

‘That was the only thing, otherwise I would have been out of there.’

Support: Hannah’s sister Zoe Ball, who is currently battling Covid , took to Instagram after the segment to share: ‘So much love for my gorgeous step sis’

Sweet: Holly also shared a snap after the interview and penned: ‘@h.j.peckham and Bodhi… so proud of you and your inspiring strength… #pantstoleukaemia’

Later in the show, rapper KSI appeared to discuss his new single but wanted to show his support for the campaign so sat with a pair of pants on his head.  

Hannah’s sister Zoe, who is currently battling Covid, took to Instagram after the segment to share: ‘So much love for my gorgeous step sis talking about her beautiful vrave son Bodhi and his leukemia diagnosis and treatment.’ 

Holly also shared a snap after the interview and penned: ‘@h.j.peckham and Bodhi… so proud of you and your inspiring strength… #pantstoleukaemia … use the hashtag and wear your pants on your head and if you can donate on the just giving page (in my story) to just some of the incredible charities working with children with cancer… thank you x 

Pants: Later in the show, rapper KSI appeared to discuss his new single but wanted to show his support for the campaign so sat with a pair of pants on his head

Explaining how the #PantsToLeukaemia campaign started, Hannah previously told PA: ‘It was Bodhi’s fourth birthday on Thursday and he was admitted to the hospital again on Friday, so we had to cancel his superhero birthday party on Sunday.

‘I was updating the group and snapped a picture of Bodhi, and like a typical four-year-old he was wearing his socks, and vest and then had his pants on his head.

‘All of the group replied in solidarity, with their pictures, and no one in there really knows each other so it was really nice.’

• Categories
• Tags