Roofers Unite to Mend Leaky Home for Young Cancer Survivor

Roofers from all over the country have come forward to volunteer their services in order to fit a brand-new roof at the North Yorkshire residence of an eight-year-old boy battling cancer, aiming to prevent further leaks and dampness issues.

Ben Firth, hailing from Selby, has achieved remission from acute lymphoblastic leukemia following over two years of continuous daily therapy.

In 2022, he was identified as having this uncommon form of cancer that impacts both his blood and bone marrow.

Initially, Ben couldn't depart from the hospital and go back to his residence – a period-style building undergoing refurbishment by his father, Richard – as the moisture, fungus, and debris posed risks to him owing to his compromised immunity.

Richard, Alison, and Ben Firth (Image: Band of Builders) For an extended period, the family resided in just one completed room, gradually advancing their situation while balancing Ben’s therapy, employment, and refurbishments.

Richard, who has taught himself various trades, put in significant effort to address problems like mould and damp throughout the construction process.

However, he conceded that he was "too prideful" to seek assistance when fitting a new roof proved too challenging for him.

During Ben Firth's cancer treatment (Image: Band of Builders) The pressure from the refurbishment took a toll on Richard’s psychological well-being.

Following the recommendation from their therapist, he and his wife, Alison, issued an appeal for assistance. Band of Builders (BoB) – a registered charity that undertakes hands-on initiatives to assist individuals within the UK construction sector and their families who are facing illnesses or injuries.

Richard and Alison mentioned that they purchased the house intending to make it their "lifetime" home and had grand ideas of carrying out the renovations themselves.

Alison and Richard Firth with their son, Ben (Image: Band of Builders) However, persistent water damage from a leaky roof has led them to constantly struggle in order to attain a feeling of finality.

Bob replied to the family’s request and reached out to its extensive network of 50,000 volunteers, supporters, and corporate partners asking for assistance with the initiative.

Twelve skilled roofing experts responded to the request and are donating their time without charge.

'We are so grateful'

The initiative, backed by SIG Roofing, commences this Thursday (May 22) and should wrap up by Sunday.

"We are immensely thankful that Band of Builders will assist our family in attaining the safety and security we have longed for," stated Richard and Alison. "Ben finds it amusing and doesn't understand why everyone is making such a big deal out of it; he just says, 'It's only a roof,'" they added.

But to us, this means everything, and Band of Builders has done an outstanding job gathering both volunteer helpers and corporate sponsors like SIG Roofing, which is sponsoring the project. We're eagerly anticipating the launch of the initiative.

Lotty Pritchard, the marketing director of SIG Roofing, stated: "For this initiative, we will supply the roofing materials free of charge, backing up the dedicated roofers and other skilled workers who are kindly donating their time to install a brand-new roof."

We're eagerly looking forward to seeing the outcomes and assisting the Firth family in beginning to cherish their 'dream' home.