A COMMUNITY in Chester continues to rally around a schoolgirl recently diagnosed with cancer.
Abi MacLaren, 10, and her family were told she had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia on September 30 after she started feeling exhausted and complaining of pain in her legs.
Mum Sam set up a Go Fund Me page to help raise cash for her daughter’s future and for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool where Abi is being treated.
So far it has raised more than £6,000 while youngsters from her school, Saighton Primary, also held a head-shave event for her.
New care home Deewater Grange, on Chester Road, is the latest to offer its support to Abi handing over £200 to her cause.
Sam said: “There are no words to explain what a diagnosis like that feels like for the whole family. There are also no words to describe the care we have received at Alder Hey.
“Abi has a long road ahead of her to wellness, but we have already been blown away by the amount of support and love we have received.”
Her treatment is expected to last for two and a half years.
Abi MacLaren, from Huntington in Chester.
Sam added: “Fifty per cent of the funds will go into an account for Abi which will be for her future needs and wishes. There are going to be good and bad days ahead and having little treats to look forward to is going to be immensely important: funky wigs, hats, trips to the ballet, audio books for us to listen to on our drives up and down to the hospital, having her nails done or a bit of reflexology, you get the idea.”
She continued: “Thank you for everything you have all done and continue to do. Nobody expects to find themselves in this position. All the love we are receiving, we are returning threefold along with a big bag of thank-yous.”
Donna Brown, customer relations manager at Deewater Grange, said: “When we heard Abi’s story, as caregivers ourselves, we naturally wanted to help in any way we could. This donation, which will be split between Abi’s Fund and Alder Hey Hospital, will benefit not only Abi, but other young people currently living with cancer.
“We always want to play our part in supporting our local community, and when we heard about how this wonderful community was pulling together for Abi, we wanted to do what we could.”
To help Abi and her family, visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/abi-macs-comeback
Deewater Grange is due to open next year.
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