A TEENAGER fighting leukaemia says he is determined to get back on stage.

Matt Sims, 16, from Stanway, has had to put his passion for singing and dancing on hold while he battles the illness.

Matt, a pupil at Honywood School, in Coggeshall, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in December.

He has been in intensive care seven times Matt suffered another setback when he tripped over a bag.

He said: “It’s just one thing after another. It’s been difficult, but the hospital staff are brilliant.

“I took my girlfriend for dinner, tripped over the bag, cut my knee and it became septic.”

He is currently being treated for pneumonia and a torn oesophagus.

Matt is particularly susceptible to infections because his immune system has been weakened by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

He had a successful stem cell transplant in May, using cells from umbilical cords flown from America and Barcelona.

His parents, Craig and Michelle, and siblings, Charlotte and Joseph, have been keeping his spirits up, along with his friends and girlfriend Rhiannon Griffiths, whom he hailed an absolute star.

Michelle said: “He has had a rough time. At the moment, he is OKand the stem cell side of his treatment is going well.”

Matt, who is being tutored at London University College Hospital, has been unable to eat or drink for a week due to his torn oesophagus, but hopes to be home in time for halloween.

A member of the Feering Singers and a dance school in London, Matt hopes to return to the stage when he is well enough.

Feering Singers are raising money for cancer charities in his honour. Profits from their show, A Little Bit of Blackpool Rock, will be split between CLIC Sargent, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Macmillan Nurses.

The show, held with Witham Step Sisters, is at the Institute, Kelvedon, on November 19 at 8pm and November 20 at 2.30pm or 7.30pm. Tickets are £7, or £6 if booked before Sunday. To book, call Penny on 01376 570358, or e-mail penny@kairoshealing.co.uk