£2,000 boost as cancer-fight Isabella, 10, is guest of honour at Walsall v Rotherham
A ten-year-old girl battling cancer proved to be the star of the show as Walsall took on Rotherham.
Isabella Lyttle was the guest of honour at Walsall's home game on Saturday.
The 10-year-old, who is battling cancer for the fourth time, did a lap of honour at half-time and met the manager Jon Whitney, even sitting at his desk.
The schoolgirl is at the centre of a £155,000 campaign to send her to New York for potentially life-saving treatment.
Supporters donated just over £2,000 into buckets taken round the pitch by Isabella, her father Mark and volunteers.
She also met the players before the game and defender Luke Leahy donated his £100 match appearance fee toward her cause.
Isabella, who lives in Walsall, is suffering from neuroblastoma, drawn to attention this year by fellow sufferer Bradley Lowery.
Having been given the all-clear last Christmas, it came back and she was diagnosed with the cancer in April.
She is now undergoing treatment to go into remission before potentially life-saving treatment in New York.
But the family must raise £155,000 for the immunotherapy designed to encourage the immune system to fight the disease.
So far they have raised around £70,000.
Speaking on Saturday, Isabella, who attends St Francis Primary School, said: "There is alot of support which is coming in for me, from friends and family and strangers.
"People are really kind, like today with the supporters giving us their money to help.
"I also enjoyed seeing the players and the mascot Swifty."
Father Mark said: "Isabella is going through so much in terms of chemotherapy at the moment, to see her bright, smiling face gives us all hope.
"She is an inspiration to me as well as others who have kindly donated money to the cause today. We're very grateful to them and the volunteers who have helped us.
"It was especially kind of one of the players to give his match appearance fee also."
As well as the lap of honour at half-time, the screens inside the stadium showed the number people can text to donate money.
It comes before the schoolgirl heads to London this year for radioactive therapy, which it is hoped will free her of the cancer.
She will then undergo a clinical trial in Southampton.
Mr Lyttle, who campaigns alongside Isabella's mother Jennie Dalton, said: "As soon as she is in remission she will be ready for the treatment in America, so it is about being ready for her to go.
"The amount of money sounds so much, but when you see how much we have raised so far and the kinds support we've had, it gives us all hope."
Donate to Isabella’s campaign at justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/solvingkidscancer/isabellalyttle
Pledges can also be made by texting ISLY88 £1-10 to 70070
