Intrepid Bakers donate profits to toddler's cancer care

Meletios Evdokias made the generous gesture as he opened his second Intrepid Bakers in Tufnell Park on Monday. (August 7)

And the Great Northern Railway Tavern in Hornsey is planning music evenings for eighteen-month-old Robin Samuel, whose family are raising £300,000 to help him survive a rare neuroblastoma.

Robin was diagnosed just before his first birthday and has undergone nine rounds of chemotherapy and stem cell harvest for a neuroblastoma that started in his adrenal gland. (Image: Family handout)

Meletios got to know the family as customers of his first bakery and cafe which opened in Hornsey High Street in 2017 and turns out home-baked goods with a Greek twist, from sourdough loaves to cakes, cinnamon swirls and breadsticks.

"I have known Nick Samuel since I first opened, he was a regular, and I feel very bad for their situation," he said. "I would like to do anything I can to help their son. I am not doing it for publicity but from my heart." 

Muswell Hill mum Rachel Samuel said her family are "big fans" of the independent bakery and cafe, which has expanded to a second site in a former Costa Coffee in Fortess Road.

"Nick and Mel have known each other for eight years and we are so grateful to the local community for getting behind us," she said.

"The sooner we can get Robin treated the better, so we are hoping to raise the bulk of the funds by September."

Diagnosed a few days before his first birthday, Robin is one of just 50 children in the UK to be treated for the condition which has only a 50/50 chance of survival.

He has undergone eight cycles of chemotherapy a stem cell harvest and nine hour operation to remove the cancer which started in his right adrenal gland and had spread to his abdomen, pelvis, spine and bone marrow.

In the UK the next step would be more high dose chemotherapy which could leave him infertile, deaf or with heart lung and thyroid problems. Rachel, 43, a communications manager, and Nick, 39, a composer, want to take Robin to Barcelona for less invasive immunotherapy which would be less damaging for his long term health.

Rachel said: "As his parents, we simply cannot justify putting him through something that would destroy all his natural defences when there is no guarantee it would work long-term. Robin's immune system is currently in great shape. The treatment available in Barcelona is cutting edge and we strongly believe the best for Robin, and if we are able to start soon, he would be finished by his second birthday."

Donations to Robin's fundraiser have so far reached £63,000 from friends, family and well-wishers, and with local businesses now involved, the family are hoping to hit their target.

"Any support means the world to us as we fight for Robin's future," aid Rachel.

"Aside from all he has been through, Robin is a typical little boy: he is talking, he enjoys singing, playing the drums, his older brothers, especially when they're making fart noises, dogs, croissants, shouting at buses and most of all reading books."