FIVE-year-old Jack Marshall has come a long way since being diagnosed with a brain tumour last year, delighting his family and doctors alike.

Mum Tracey said her brave son never complained, despite undergoing bouts of radiotherapy, where his whole head was encased in a protective mask and fastened down to a bed.

Football-loving Jack has been seriously ill for 10 months, and although he is still receiving chemotherapy, managed to return to school before the summer holidays.

He competed in his school sports day at Bottesford Infants, cheered on by the crowd, and won a 'best newcomer' prize for his golf skills at Holme Hall.

Tracey said: "He's so brave, he really never complained. He'd be saying to everyone 'come on, get on with it' and from outside the treatment room we'd hear him singing along to Queen and Kasabian every time. The nurses said he dealt with it better than most adults do, he didn't even fidget, we just had to get him to hold his legs still a few times because he'd be moving them in time with the music."

After Jack's illness was diagnosed he had an operation to remove the tumour, but doctors discovered the illness had spread, leaving 'seeds' in his brain and around his spine. Jack was supposed to begin having radiotherapy followed by a break, then chemotherapy, but during the process to prepare him for the treatment, he became seriously ill.

Dad Craig said: "Luckily, Jack can't remember, but he had a series of seizures, he had no interest in anything, he didn't know who we were, we just couldn't engage with him. The consultant said the disease had spread much quicker than anyone could have anticipated and had covered his brain and was growing into his brain stem."

The parents then had to endure four days where their son had no idea who they were. Tracey said: "There was a turning point where he started coming back. I'd gone to get some rest and when he saw us coming back he started to cry because he realised we'd been away."

Jack has faced the radiotherapy, two bouts of chemotherapy, one of which is still underway, and also suffers neutropenia, which means his immune system is severely compromised and he must have constant top-ups of platelets at Sheffield Children's Hospital.

When he first left hospital he was so weak he was unable to sit up unaided, let alone walk or run – but Tracey said football had helped rebuild his strength. She said: "Even when he could only hang onto the sofa to stand up he'd be there kicking his ball.

"Every time he went back to see his doctor he improved. He went from being carried in our arms, to walking on his frame, to jumping with his frame, to walking on his own to running.

"He's improving every day. Seeing him on sports day when he was running and everyone was cheering him on, it really hit home how far he's come."

Now, Jack loves to play football outside with older brother Josh, 11.

Although there will be lasting effects of his illness, including a compromised immune system and memory problems, Jack's family have said they will all learn to work around any problems.

While a charity in Jack's name will eventually be set up, anyone who wishes to donate to brain tumour research is asked do so through the website www.justgiving.com/jack-marshall

All funds will go to the Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust.