THE boss of a Colchester taxi company has offered to provide free lifts to the family of a terminally ill ten-year-old.

J-Jay Wood was diagnosed with rare cancer clear cell sarcoma in 2021 and in March this year his loved ones were told he only had months to live – two days before his tenth birthday.

His grandmother, Sally Ruggier, stepped in to care for him while his single mother, Marie Wood, 39, took her daughter, Jenna-Mae, to Brinkley Grove Primary School.

But her care had to stop after Sally herself was given her own devastating cancer diagnosis, with the 59-year-old’s chemotherapy rendering her unable to look after her young grandson.

Gazette: Fighter - J-Jay Wood being treated last year, aged nineFighter - J-Jay Wood being treated last year, aged nine (Image: Newsquest)

Courageous J-Jay can no longer travel in the car with his mum on the school run from Porter Drive, Stanway, to Highwoods, due to the pain and discomfort it causes him.

The family have since pleaded with Essex County Council fund private transport to take Jenna-Mae, six, to school, but no such offer has yet been made.

Having read the Wood family’s story in Monday’s Gazette, Colchester taxi firm Panther Cabs has now stepped in to help them out.

Owner Christine Hardy said as a mother and a nan herself, she couldn’t sit by and not do anything, offering the family a free taxi ride on the school run for as long as they need.

Gazette: Kind-hearted- Christine Hardy, front, of Panther Cabs, Kind-hearted- Christine Hardy, front, of Panther Cabs, (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s just upsetting that someone’s got cancer and nobody seems to care about others anymore,” said Ms Hardy.

“It’s heartbreaking that a mother is going to lose her son. I own a taxi company and thought I’m sure I can help this family somehow.

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“I’m not doing this for any credit, I just truly believe people should be nicer to others. If you can help somebody it will help you to feel better too.”

Essex County Council has offered the family free public transport for Jenna-Mae, something they have declined due to concerns about the six-year-old’s safety travelling alone.

A spokesman said correspondence has been sent to them advising of their position and the authority is is awaiting a response from them.