Fundraisers raise cash to send leukaemia sufferer to Florida
Published Date:
15 August 2008
A LITTLE girl fighting leukaemia is set to enjoy the trip of a lifetime
after she finishes her treatment.
Five-year-old Lauryn Atkinson, of Badgers Lane, Bourne, completed her first course of intensive chemotherapy at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge earlier this month.
Her mum Claire, 26, and her Derek Lees, 26, were devastated when they found out Lauryn was suffering from the disease just a few days after her fifth birthday at the beginning of July.
But friends and family have rallied around them.
On Saturday they raised £3,000 from a sponsored headshave and waxing at the Red Lion pub in South Street. The money will send the family to Walt Disney World in Florida in 2010, when Lauryn will be well enough to travel.
Claire, who is also mum to nine-week-old Evie Lees, said: "We are just completely overwhelmed by the support. Everyone in the town has got behind us and we are so grateful.
"We found out she had got leukaemia after we took her to hospital with a bloated tummy and it was such a shock. But Lauryn has been so brilliant throughout all this.
"She doesn't like the injections and can't understand why she has to have them, but she is really brave and giggles all the time. Her positive outlook is really getting us through."
Lauryn, a pupil at Westfield Primary School, will need regular bouts of chemotherapy until 2010.
Then Claire, a psychological assistant at Stocken prison, and Derek, a British Gas engineer, are hoping lauryn will be well enough for a family holiday in Florida.
Claire's friend Tammi Blackaby and partner Aaron McNamee, of Southfields in Bourne, organised the fundraising event, with a target of £2,000.
The extra £1,000 they have raised will be donated to Addenbrookes Hospital and the Sick Children's Trust, a house in the grounds of the hospital which provides beds for the parents of ill children.
Tammi, 28, who works for a training firm, said: "Lauryn is so brave and she doesn't deserve to have this disease, but we wanted to give her something to look forward to. We are really delighted to have raised so much money."
Bricklayer Aaron, 26, who is still getting used to his new hairstyle, said: "I'm definitely going to grow it back. At the moment we are just short of £1,900 but Shaun Lynch of G and S Roofing has raised £1,200 through donations from local businesses. We are really grateful to Shaun for getting involved."
Tammi's 10-year-old son Ryan Barber will have his head shaved tomorrow, after being inspired by Aaron's new look.
Claire's brother Mark Atkinson, 22, of Swallow Hill, Thurlby, will continue the fundraising when he completes 10,000ft tandem skydive on September 13. The money he raises will go to the Sick Children's Trust. To sponsor Mark visit www.justgiving.com/markatkinson.
The full article contains 492 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
14 August 2008 5:26 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Stamford