A group of big-hearted staff got together to organise a fundraiser after a fellow worker was diagnosed with a rare cancer.

Tesco staff in Fullbridge, Maldon, have raised more than £2,300 in honour of 19-year-old team member Johnny Hughes.

He began working at the supermarket in Maldon during lockdown in 2020.

At Christmas he was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a subtype of sarcoma that occurs in the bone.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Bake sale: staff at Tesco in MaldonBake sale: staff at Tesco in Maldon (Image: Sarcoma UK)

Sarcoma makes up less than two percent of all cancers diagnosed in the UK each year.

There are many different types of sarcoma and it can affect any part of the body.

Johnny is now undergoing chemotherapy treatment in London.

Work colleagues, family and friends set up a fundraiser for Sarcoma UK, which is the only cancer charity in the UK focusing on all types of sarcoma.

Maldon and Burnham Standard: Sweet treats: cakes and treats at the bake saleSweet treats: cakes and treats at the bake sale (Image: Sarcoma UK)

The charity funds vital research, campaigns for better treatments and offers support for anyone affected by the condition.

Johnny said: “I am lucky enough to have an amazing work family - aka ‘the girls’ - who have been amazingly supportive since my diagnosis.

“On Friday, with the help of one of ‘the girls’, Michelle, hoped to raise a little money for Sarcoma UK, and also help raise awareness of sarcoma itself.

“My cancer, osteosarcoma, is a kind of sarcoma that occurs in the bone. It is a very rare cancer that seems to affect predominantly teenagers and young adults, mainly in the arms and legs.

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“I look forward to coming to the next bake sale with Michelle, so I can say hi and thank everyone for their support.”

Michelle is planning on hosting future bake sales to continue raising money for the cause. 

Johnny has urged everyone to familiarise themselves with the signs of sarcoma and to contact their GP if experience the symptoms.

The symptoms to look out for are a lump which is growing, changing or bigger than a golf ball, swelling, tenderness or pain in or around the bone which may come and go and may get worse at night, stomache pain, feeling sick, loss of appetite or feeling full after eating only a small amount of food, or blood in either poo or vomit.