Carter Hansen, from South Shields, had just turned 12 years old in 2024, when he was diagnosed with Blastic Plasmacytoid Dentientric Cell Neoplasm, an extremely rare form of blood cancer.
It was in September when Carter noticed bruises on his head and began feeling tired. At first, his parents put the fatigue down to the challenge of starting secondary school. But the bruises were more of a mystery, as Carter hadn’t banged his head. One GP they consulted was certain it wasn’t leukaemia, which was a relief, but couldn’t explain the bruising.
Carter was referred to Sunderland Hospital where he stayed for a few days while numerous tests were undertaken including blood tests, X-rays and MRI scans. It was a time of great uncertainty for the family. There was no diagnosis as a result of the tests, and Carter’s parents paid for private tests to see if they could get some clarity.
Finally, in December, Carter went to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle to see a specialist. Within hours, he had a diagnosis and was immediately admitted.
For Carter’s mum, Gemma, it was devastating. ‘It felt like my heart had been ripped apart,’ she says. ‘We had an answer at last, but not the answer we wanted.’
The treatment began within days at the Great North Children’s Hospital. ‘The first day, they were getting everything checked,’ says Carter. ‘I think it was the day after that I got my port in and chemo began.’
Gemma was all too aware of what Carter was going through. For him, school and friends were everything. ‘Suddenly he was having to think about the word cancer and about a condition none of the family could even pronounce,’ she says. ‘He was concerned what his friends might think, how he might lose his hair. It was so much to take in.’
The months that followed were incredibly tough. Carter’s blood count was really low so he spent much of the time isolating at home, ensuring he didn’t develop any life-threatening infections. Inevitably, he did sometimes become ill, which meant long spells recovering in hospital.
One day, Carter’s blood count was quite low and he needed a transfusion. It was late and the oncology day unit where he was normally treated was shutting at 6:30 pm, so Carter had to receive the transfusion on the in-patient ward instead.
It was while there that he noticed a leaflet advertising a competition. The Dream Bestie competition invited children undergoing cancer treatment across the UK to design their own comforting companion, a character that would bring them joy during an incredibly challenging time. The winning design would be transformed into a microwaveable plush toy by Warmies, with all profits donated to Cancer Support UK.
Cuddles for Christmas Bear
The charity includes Warmies soft toys in it’s Kid’s Cancer Kits as well as delivering 1,200 ‘Cuddles for Christmas’ bears to children undergoing cancer treatment. Carter had received one of these bears himself while he was on the children’s oncology ward.
“He uses the bear a lot in the early days by heating it up and using it to ease the pain he was in.” explains his mum, Gemma. “It was a great comfort to him.”
Drawing has always been Carter’s passion. While he was in hospital his art teacher came to visit and would sit and draw with him. So he needed little persuasion to enter the ‘Dream Bestie’ competition and design a soft toy he thought might be just as comforting to other children. And as it turned out, he had just the character in mind.
Carter’s design, Harvey the Happy Harp Seal, was inspired by a memorable moment during
his time in hospital.
Original Drawing – Final Design
‘I came up with Harvey the Happy Harp Seal after the Newcastle football players came in to visit us in hospital around Christmas,’ says Carter. ‘The first person to walk through the door was Harvey Barnes, who had just scored two goals in Newcastle’s most recent game. Harp seals are my favourite animal, so I just linked the two together. Drawing and being creative really helped take my mind off everything while I was in hospital, giving me something positive to focus on.’
One day, Gemma came in with some amazing news. Carter had been chosen as one of the six finalists in the competition. There was now a chance to vote for the winning design, which would then go on to be manufactured! The vote closed at the end of March 2026, after which the family received some even better news – Carter had won!
It’s an incredible achievement for a boy who was struggling so much in hospital during treatment. But it also says a great deal about his creative ambitions. When he grows up, Carter wants to become an architectural engineer, designing new buildings and structures.
After nine months of intensive chemotherapy, Carter is now on maintenance treatment. It still involves chemotherapy every day, as well as a dose of steroids once every month, which has side effects.
Despite the ongoing treatment, Carter is doing so much better. He’s back in school full-time and feeling more alert.
Carter had missed the entire first year of secondary school, so it was really exciting going back. He’d received a little help from a tutor who came to the house during his treatment, but still had a lot to catch up on.
‘He’s a clever lad,’ says Gemma. ‘Really good at Maths and Science, and he’s still top of the class!’
Gemma is amazingly proud of all that Carter has achieved – getting through the treatment, resuming school so successfully, and winning the prize. ‘But all the competition entrants are winners in our eyes,’ she says. ‘They’re all going through this awful disease.’
Catrter’s Harvey the Happy Harp Seal will now be made into a limited edition heatable soft toy by our great friends at Warmies with all profits donated to Cancer Support UK.
Available from September 2026 but you can secure yours now by pre-ordering here:
https://warmies.co.uk/products/harvey-the-happy-harp-seal
Carter meeting his inspiration – Harvey Barnes of Newcastle United FC
