Boy, 9, with leukaemia from Bromley tops charts with fight song

Archie Branyik, 9, recorded his own version of Fight Song by Rachel Platton with his class from Southborough Primary School.

Parents and children alike were thrilled that the song, released in early January, reached number one in the iTunes charts and number 28 on charts nationally.

His mum, Natalie Branyik, is proud beyond belief of what Archie has accomplished.

Archie Branyik and his class (Image: Natalie Branyik)

She told the News Shopper: “We’d already had a charity football match last year to help raise some funds.

“Before Archie was diagnosed, he used to go to a performing arts school called D&B Performing Arts in Downham and he absolutely loved singing, dancing and acting.

“Unfortunately, he had to give that up due to the diagnosis.

“And because he kept singing, I sort of sat down with him and said ‘would you like to record a song?’, because he kept singing fight song.

“I thought ‘what if we released it and raised some money for these charities?’ and he was right on board, he said ‘yes mum, this is amazing’ and asked if his class could do it with him.”

Archie Branyik (Image: Natalie Branyik)

The children took a bit of time off school to head to a recording studio and make Archie’s vision a reality.

His best friend at school, Sophia, is the daughter of rapper K-Koke who was able to pull strings and make the experience happen.

Natalie added: “I am so incredibly proud of him.

“They absolutely loved it, they really did.

“The fact we charted in the iTunes chart – the whole class was beyond excited.

“It’s all to do with raising money for charities and children in his position.

Archie Branyik (Image: Natalie Branyik)

“He doesn’t want any other child to sort of have to go through the extensive chemotherapy treatment because it’s very, very harsh treatment.

“He wants kinder treatment for children, he wants more help for children because things like Archie struggles with his muscles in his legs and although there is some help out there, there’s not an awful lot.

“For example, we’ve been advised to do hydrotherapy in a swimming pool, but it’s very difficult to find anybody that does it.

“So, it’s just raising some funds to put towards those things and help another child.”

In November 2022, Natalie noticed that Archie was becoming very tired, but she put it down to him participating in too many different activities.

Then, she saw that he was becoming full very quickly after meals, but she thought it might be because he was keen to go and play with his friends.

Around December 2022, Natalie said that Archie had “lost an awful lot of weight” and that he woke up with large lymph nodes on his neck.

She thought he had tonsillitis or mumps and had to take him to Beckenham Urgent Care after being unable to get a GP appointment.

A doctor felt lymph nodes in Archie’s armpits and groin as well as his neck but put it down to tonsillitis and sent him away with antibiotics.

Natalie was told to follow this up with the GP if it did not improve and while the lymph nodes fluctuated in size, Natalise found that Archie seemed okay.

She described the situation as “confusing”, and she said that she kept being told was a viral infection.

When a few weeks went by and there was no improvement, she went to her GP and even asked if they were looking at a cancer diagnoses.

She said: “It was just a gut feeling I had. No mum wants to think it but something in my mind was saying this is more serious.”

Over the coming weeks, Archie underwent more tests which came back normal and Natalie was told again that his symptoms were not cancer.

However, the lymph nodes did not improve, and Archie began to complain of leg pain, back pain and regular headaches.

One day, he went into school despite feeling unwell so that he could try out for the school football team, but he fell up the stairs and hurt his legs.

When Natalie picked him up, the bruising on his shins did not sit right with her and she noticed tiny dots on his legs which she has since learned were bleeds underneath his skin from low platelets.

She called the GP who recommended she head to A&E where after more tests, Natalie was told that it was suspected her son had leukaemia.

From that moment, Archie began going through treatment and he is now in remission.

Natalie said: “In the last year, he’s really had to grow up which is a shame.

“When you have to go through chemotherapy it takes your childhood away.

“As a parent, it’s really not nice to see. But, seeing how well he is doing I’m just in awe of him he’s just amazing.”

Archie and his best friend Sophia (Image: Natalie Branyik)

Chloe Browne, the mum of Archie’s best friend Sophia, was thrilled to help coordinate the project and be part of raising money to help children like Archie.

She and her husband found the class studio space, an engineer and a producer to make the single happen.

She said: “It has really brought them together as a class, as friends.

“They have performed it in assemblies, Archie performed at a school disco live – I think it has been a really nice bonding experience for them all.

“Sophia and Archie have been friends since reception.

“They have got closer the last couple of years and since he’s gone through this they’ve really bonded.

“They get to eat lunch together and have separate times for playtimes so they’re really close.”

She added that the kids were “buzzing” to hear the song in the charts on the Sunday radio and that they feel like celebrities, even being asked by other pupils at school for their autographs.

Patrick Foley, headteacher at Southborough Primary School, said: "The school is very proud off the children, and the staff, and their efforts to raise money and awareness about children's cancer."

The charities Natalie and Archie have chosen to donate the money to are Young Lives Vs Cancer, Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group and Children with Cancer UK.

A spokesperson for the Kent branch of Young Lives Vs Cancer said: “We are so grateful to Archie, his family and everyone at Southborough Primary School for choosing to support Young Lives vs Cancer as one of the charities supported by Fight Song.

"All money raised will help us in our mission to help children, young people and their families get the support they need to be able to cope with everything cancer throws at them.  

"Archie recording his charity single is such a unique and creative way to raise money as well as spread vital awareness about the challenges faced by children diagnosed with cancer and their families."

The CEO of Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG), Ashley Ball-Gamble, said: "We'd like to say a huge thank you to the mega-talented Archie and his classmates for their incredible musical fundraising. 

"Their support will help us fund vital research into finding better, kinder treatments for childhood cancer and information resources to help young people and their families following a diagnosis."

Alex Hayward, head of Individual Giving, said: "Archie is such an inspiration and following his story has been a privilege for Children with Cancer UK.

"The proceeds raised from Archie's cover of 'Fight Song' will go towards funding research into less toxic and kinder treatments which will continue to help children and young people, like Archie.

"It is an honour to be one of his chosen charities and we look forward to seeing what else Archie achieves as he continues on his childhood cancer journey."