Former West Ham captain Declan Rice makes touching donation to academy star battling rare brain cancer

Former West Ham captain Declan Rice has made a generous donation to one of the club’s academy players who is battling a rare form of brain cancer.

Fourteen-year-old goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, who has been with West Ham since he was nine, was diagnosed with ependymoma (a brain tumour) in August 2023. Since then, he has undergone seven operations and undergone both chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Fairs has now been accepted onto a European multitarget metronomic antiangiogenic (MEMMAT) trial for medulloblastoma in Lille and his family are aiming to raise £100,000 for the treatment.

Rice has made a significant contribution to this cause by donating £5,000 to Fairs.

Like Fairs, Rice also came through the youth ranks at West Ham, although he only joined the club later in life after Chelsea released him as a teenager.

Former West Ham captain Declan Rice has made a donation to a star academy player battling cancer

West Ham goalkeeper Oscar Fairs, 14, (pictured) was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year

He has undergone seven operations and Rice has now made a donation of £5,000 to help him receive further treatment in Lille, France

He made his first-team debut in 2017 and led the club to Europa Conference League glory last year.

Just weeks after that triumph, he left the club for a record £105million move to Arsenal.

He was booed by some fans on his return to the London Stadium last season but scored a stunning goal in a 6-0 win for Arsenal, refusing to celebrate as a mark of respect for his former club.

Despite all the boos, West Ham still seem to hold a special place in Rice’s heart, with the Arsenal midfielder making a touching donation in the hope of helping one of their youth players battle cancer.

Fairs have also received donations from West Ham co-owner David Sullivan (£10,000), former West Ham winger Robert Snodgrass (£1,000) and current Irons defender Kortney Hause (£500).

Rice joined Arsenal last year, but West Ham still seems to hold a special place in his heart

Fairs’ mother Natalie thanked Rice and Co. for their generous contributions to her son’s treatment fund.

“I can’t find words big enough or strong enough (to express the enormous generosity of people),” she told the Essex Echo.

‘It’s such an overwhelming sight to see the numbers. Our children are our future.

‘People we don’t know – but strangers, are donating their vital funds to support us. With a lump in my throat and tears streaming down my face, I can’t thank them enough – they are supporting my baby.’