Insurance firms block cancer teen’s final wish

The mum of desperately ill teenager Leon Rendle today pleaded for help to make one of his final wishes come true.

Leon, who is battling a rare form of incurable cancer, was delighted when doctors confirmed he was fit enough to make the trip of a lifetime to Florida at the end of this month.

The 15-year-old Transformers fan had his heart set on visiting Universal Studios in Orlando and swimming with dolphins.

But now the precious two-week trip, which Leon fears could be his last ever holiday with his family, is in doubt, as every insurance company the family has contacted so far has refused to provide any kind of cover.

And with time running out before he starts his next course of gruelling treatment, the Lochend family faces a nail-biting race to make his dream come true.

Mum Nicky, 42, said the insurance frustrations had come as a huge blow, particularly as medical professionals have given the holiday plans the thumbs-up.

She said: “Leon’s doctor has said he is fit to travel, he is doing really well, but that’s not good enough for the insurance companies.

“They won’t cover him. We have to fly out on March 26 so we can be back for his next stage of chemotherapy.

“Everything is in place, we have the money for the holiday and know where we want to go.

“But we can’t book it until we have his insurance.

“It’s heartbreaking. One minute we’re up because we’re told Leon can go and we know how much it means to him, then things change and we’re down again.”