£150,000 raised for brave Walsall 10-year-old Isabella
A fundraising campaign to help a brave Walsall girl battling cancer has raised £150,000.
Isabella Lyttle, aged 11, has been battling her high risk neuroblastoma since she was three years old.
Having suffered her third devastating relapse in 2017, options for treatment in the UK are running out. Her family have now launched a campaign to fund life-saving treatment in America.
On Saturday, the family's latest fundraising event was held at the New Inn pub in Bridgnorth.
Local residents were invited to an evening of live music, family fun and prize raffles, with all funds raised going to the Solving Kids' Cancer charity.
Melanie Gutteridge is a friend of Isabella's family, and the event at the New Inn was her idea.
"The event went absolutely brilliantly," she said. "People turned out all day and were very generous. At the same time it was amazing to see and very tiring to make sure it all went okay.
"We've still got a few more bits and bobs planned to raise money but it's not finalised yet."
Chemotherapy
After been diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2010, Isabella underwent gruelling treatment and was in remission by April 2012.
However, the 11-year-old has since relapsed three times since 2012, and went on to receive chemotherapy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital
The family are now having to look outside of the UK for long-term options.
"Isabella, the poor thing, has been through treatment for eight years, and now she has to go to the US for treatment. These are what these events are for," added Melanie.
The family, who are from Walsall, are yet to tot up the total from the weekend, but have raised an impressive £150,000 so far.
A further raffle was held at the New Inn on Monday evening, a charity bucket is also still in the pub in order to collect ongoing donations.
The family gained some much needed support, after the Isabella launched her own hard-hitting video 'The C Word' last year. The content reached millions of people around the world.
Solving Kids’ Cancer supports children and families affected by neuroblastoma, a rare form of paediatric cancer.
According to the charity there are around 100 new cases of neuroblastoma each year, of which children are predominantly under 5 years old.
To find out more about the charity visit solvingkidscancer.org.uk
