Family and friends rally round to help Wigan girl with neuroblastoma

A huge fundraising drive has been launched after a Wigan two-year-old was diagnosed with a devastating form of cancer.
Alice-Rae Gray who has neuroblastomaAlice-Rae Gray who has neuroblastoma
Alice-Rae Gray who has neuroblastoma

Family of little Alice-Rae Gray, from Pemberton, were horrified to be told that she has neuroblastoma and that the illness has spread to several parts of her body.

Parents Natalie and Cal and nan Kim Gray received the traumatic news from doctors only recently, but already a large number of charity events have been organised by friends in aid of the stricken tot.

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Kim said: “Alice was poorly in December and doctors said it was a water infection.

“She continued to be ill over Christmas so she was taken to the doctors who sent her to Wigan Infirmary.

“They did scans and found what they thought was a Wilms’ tumour (a form of childhood kidney cancer) and they referred her to Manchester Children’s Hospital.

“She was there from January 13 and they did tests and scans and we were told on January 18 that she had stage 4 neuroblastoma. We were just shocked and devastated.”

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Kim, who lives in Aspull, said Alice-Rae’s cancer had started in her kidneys and has spread to her bone marrow and chest. She said that Alice-Rae even spent her second birthday in hospital while they were awaiting the news.

Now the next step for Alice-Rae is chemotherapy followed by surgery.

She said: “We’re confident that she can get through this. She is well in herself and walking about and playing.”

To help Alice-Rae’s parents pay the bills, food and for accommodation near the hospital, Kim said the community have taken to raising money.

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She said: “People have been doing raffles, a charity rugby match is being organised and a sky dive.

“Buckets will also be going into shops to collect money.

“A lot of money has already been raised and I can’t thank everyone enough.”

The fund-raising drive has been spearheaded by Kim’s friend Stacey Boylan, who has set up a JustGiving page and has set a £15,000 goal.

Mum-of-two Stacey, from Ince, said a raffle has been organised on Facebook, with people and businesses donating a number of prizes already.

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She said that Leigh Trade Centre and her husband Shaun are also organising a socially-distanced sponsored marathon.

They are looking to get another 30 runners involved and plan to set a date in April when they hope lockdown will be eased.

A Facebook page has also been set up to act as a focal point for all the raffles which have been organised.

Several professional rugby clubs will also be involved with the fund-raising drive.

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Stacey said: “I’ve set a target of raising £15,000 and we’ve already raised a lot and I’d like to raise more than that.

“We want to get funds to Alice-Rae’s parents immediately.

“It’s devastating what has happened and they have four other children who need looking after, plus food, bills, accommodation and hospital trips to pay for.

“I want to ease things financially for them and £1,200 has already been given to

them.

“The response so far has been overwhelming and I’d like to thank all the businesses and people who have come forward and helped.”

To donate money visit JustGiving and search for Alice Rae.

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