Couple launch appeal in memory of son at school

THE official launch of the Elliott’s Arc appeal took place at his old school.

A special assembly was held at Sacred Heart primary in Greys Hill, Henley, to remember five-year-old Elliott Peto, who died of Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of cancer, in December.

His parents, Chris Peto and Aimée Day, presented a cheque for £10,000 to Sara Wakeling, the founder of Alice’s Arc, a charity dedicated to raising funds for research into the disease and better treatments.

Elliott is the 18th child to have an “arc” dedicated to them.

Before the assembly, his parents met Avery Penna and Chris Greig, Elliott’s reception and year one teachers, and his friends in the classroom they used to share.

Mr Peto gave them all special blue Elliott’s Arc wristbands.

Headteacher Rachel Gavin welcomed everyone to the assembly.

She said: “We are coming together as a school to celebrate the life of Elliott. Sometimes we are going to feel happy as we listen to these memories and at times you will feel sad too. It’s okay to feel happy, it’s okay to feel sad. What’s important is we’re all here together to remember Elliott.”

Photos of Elliott with candles in front of them were displayed on a table at the front of the hall. His classmates sat at the front, carrying paper candles that they had made. They took it in turns to stand up and read out their favourite memories of him:

“He was such a lovely boy. He was kind and looked after people.”

“Once he helped me find my toy when it was lost. When he found it I was so happy.”

“Elliott loved Spider-Man.”

“He pretended to shoot webs. We all pretended to be superheroes and save the world as a team.”

Mrs Gavin played the piano while the children sang and signed hymns including God Hears Me When I Pray and This Little Light Of Mine, which was one of Elliott’s favourites.

Mrs Gavin, Miss Penna and Mr Greig led the school in three prayers for Elliott, his parents and family and friends.

Mrs Wakeling thanked everyone for their support and shared the story of Alice, her daughter.

She said: “I never had the chance to meet Elliott, so I feel very lucky to listen to all your stories about his time at school.

“My husband and I created Alice’s Arc at the end of 2015, six months after our daughter Alice’s diagnosis with the disease.

“Alice’s journey lasted almost five years with two relapses, periods of stability and travel abroad to access treatment. She passed away in October 2019, having exhausted treatment options.

“We were shocked by the lack of research into Rhabdomyosarcoma, the dated treatment regime, the stalled progress in improving outcomes and the absence of a community concentrating on making change.

“Our friends, family and community wanted to help us by fundraising. We knew we had to take action and registered Alice’s Arc as a charity.

“It’s a pleasure to launch Elliott’s Arc today. I’m really looking forward to working with Chris and Aimée and all of you to help improve outcomes for children diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma in the future.

“Children like Elliott are the inspiration for this work — they are in our hearts every day.”

Mr Peto said: “We want to thank you all so much for this lovely assembly for Elliott where you’ve come together to remember him with stories, prayers and songs he knew. We miss him so very much but know he’s with us and will be watching from heaven, smiling and joining in the singing and signing.

“When he could actually be in school after his treatment, he was just so happy to be back in class learning and playing alongside his friends and teachers.

“We want to thank everyone in this community, in Henley and beyond, who raised money to bring Elliott his magical experience at the end of last year.

“We wish he’d had longer to enjoy this but we did try to fill his days with lots of fun times while he was well enough and he got to visit lots of places and do things which made him happy with his family and friends surrounding him.

“We would like to give the remaining donations raised to Alice’s Arc, which is helping to find better medicines and a cure for Rhabdomyosarcoma.

“Elliott now has his own Arc and we hope it will help us share his story with the world, celebrate his bravery and raise money.”

Elliott’s parents presented the cheque to Mrs Wakeling and Mr Peto said: “As Elliott would say, it’s ginormous.”

The assembly ended with a hymn, Do Not Be Afraid, before Elliott’s class went back to their classroom for squash, tea and biscuits with Elliott’s parents and friends.

Ms Day said she and her partner were very touched by the occasion.

She said: “It’s really very moving. It’s the most lovely thing when they’re singing and talking about him. I’m just trying to keep my
composure.”

Miss Penna said: “Elliott was quite shy at the beginning of school. For the few weeks he was like my little shadow. We spent a lot of the day together holding hands.

“Although he was shy around lots of new children, he was very open and chatty with adults. He had lots to say about animals, insects, dinosaurs and superheroes.

“Elliott listened attentively and enjoyed the structure of the school day. He liked to know what we were doing now and what was coming next. He loved to explore, particularly the outdoor space. He wanted to climb, jump and race around full speed.

“He was interested in how things work and he loved to build Lego and marble runs. Elliott had an incredible attention span. He loved to sit and listen to stories, work on craft activities and listen to music.”

Miss Penna helped Elliott to learn despite him not being able to attend school for long periods.

She said: “Once he was well enough to have visitors, I began to visit him at home. As Elliott was shielding, I would come with my camping chair, hot water bottle and mask and sit at the bottom of the path while Elliott sat in the open doorway all bundled up.

“He spent most of his time with doctors and nurses so it was a nice change of face for him, I think.

“He was often so excited that he would jump from one topic to the next, asking his mum or dad to fetch this toy or that toy to show me. We had lots of laughs.

“Chris worked so hard to give Elliott the best education and I joked with him that he should come and be a teaching assistant at school with all the knowledge he had gained.”

Two days before he passed away, Miss Penna helped Elliott achieve one of his life’s ambition — to carry out a “leap of faith” like Spider-Man. They went to Parthian Climbing in Reading where they scaled a wall before jumping, supported by their harnesses and ropes.

Miss Penna said: “It was a great honour for me to be able to spend time with Elliott fulfilling one of his final wishes. Climbing is a great love of mine and to share that with Elliott was a memory I will never forget.”

Mrs Gavin said the school would continue to raise money for Elliott's Arc, adding: “Although he was with us for such a short time, we are such a small and close community that he has touched the lives of us all.”