YOUNG chocolate fans are invited to draw a picture for a novel competition aimed at raising awareness of the battle against childhood leukaemia.

Five-month-old Callum Tolley from Marston is undergoing chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with the blood cancer in December.

His parents Daniel, 25 and Natalie, 24, are looking to raise £500 for charity CLIC Sargent, which has been supporting the family since they received the devastating news of the diagnosis.

To help raise awareness of the work of the organisation, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, Daniel is planning to have an image of an orange leukaemia ribbon tattooed on his shoulder.

Alongside the ribbon he is to have a tattoo of a picture of a TV, cartoon or comic character drawn by a local youngster.

Children are invited to draw their favourite character on A5 paper and email or post their entry to Danny by April 10.

The top five entries will receive an Easter egg, and people will be able to vote for the winner on the Facebook page Baby Callum between April 11 and 17.

The winner will receive a larger Easter egg and a £20 Toys R Us voucher.

“I was trying to think of something unique to promote the charity,” said Danny, an IT engineer.

“I came up with the idea of the tattoo as it’s permanent like the effect leukaemia has on a family, and will be done by Sacred Arts in Castle.

“Without CLIC Sargent our family would have fallen apart emotionally, physically and financially, and they have helped us tremendously.”

Callum fell ill with a chest infection in December, and following blood tests it was found he had a high white cell count, low haemoglobin and a low platelet count.

He underwent blood and platelet transfusions, and following a bone marrow test was diagnosed with B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, which affects one in 150 children under the age of one.

Anyone who would like to support the family’s appeal for CLIC Sargent can do so at justgiving.co.uk/danny-tolley.

Drawings can be emailed to babycallumfundraising@gmail.com or posted to Callum Tattoo Competition, 16 Mere Road, Marston, CW9 6DR.