'I faced cancer alone after fleeing Iran at 13'

A teenage refugee who had to face cancer without his family after arriving in the UK has said he is chasing his dream of becoming a football referee now he has been given the all-clear.

Peyman Gorani, now 19, fled Iran and came to Lancashire when he was 13, living in a children's home in Accrington and enrolling in The Hollins School.

He completed his GCSEs in 2021 before falling ill with non-hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer that impacts white blood cells, and had treatment in hospital for five months.

Mr Gorani said: "It was so hard because I have no family and only a few friends that I have made since I arrived in the UK."

He added: "When they first told me it was cancer, I didn't understand, because English is my second language."

With the support of his teachers and support workers, Mr Gorani went into remission, but continues to struggle with side effects like memory loss and fatigue.

He said: "I felt like the happiest person in the world when the doctor told me I recovered."

Now living in Preston, Mr Gorani said he was now hoping to fulfil his dream of becoming a football referee, having finished his Level 7 football referee training course and going to games on weekends.

Cancer Research UK has given him a Star Award, specific recognition for young people, for his "courage" and his determination to achieve his goals.

Jemma Humphreys form the charity said researchers were working to find "less toxic ways" to treat cancer in young people.

She added: "Cancer in children and young people is different to cancer in adults, from the types of cancer to the impact of treatment, and many may experience serious long-term side effects."

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