A CAMPAIGN to raise money for potentially life-saving treatment for a toddler battling cancer has smashed the £60,000 mark.
Freddie Thompson, aged three, was diagnosed with aggressive neuroblastoma last summer and his family are trying to raise £250,000 to send him to America for pioneering treatment.
The treatment could reduce the chance of Freddie's cancer returning to 30 per cent- currently there is a 50 per cent chance and the survival rate is low.
Since the Freddie's Fight campaign was launched two weeks ago, people from across the globe have donated in numbers and the local community has also embraced the cause.
The fund has now passed the £60,000 mark and the family thanked everyone, saying in an online post: "We set a challenge to hit £60,000 online by the end of the week, and you’ve smashed it. Onto the next milestone now.
"This is only from online donations so we can’t wait to see the total from all your collections and events over the coming weeks.
"In less than a week, you’ve managed to raise over £10,000.
"You’re incredible.
"None of this would be possible without all of you running events, donating and sharing so from the bottom of our hearts, thank you."
The Thompson family - Emily, Philip, Oscar and Freddie - live in Ampleforth, with connections to Thirsk and Kilburn and a multitude of events have been organised within the community to raise funds for Freddie's Fight.
Upcoming events include a collection at the Northallerton Junior Park Run at Hambleton Leisure Centre on Sunday morning, cake sales and a fancy dress dog walk on February 24 at Sowerby Flatts from 1.30pm.
The majority of schools in the Thirsk area have also been holding non-uniform days and collections.
Meanwhile, Celebrate Country Cake Design in Helmsley is hosting a special fundraising Sugarcraft workshop on February 23 where participants can learn to create a teddy bear complete with a gold ribbon in honour of Childhood Cancer Awareness.
Business owner, Rhian Crusher, said: “When I heard about Freddie and everything he has already been through, I knew I had to help."
Details of upcoming events and how to donate can be found on the Freddie's Fight facebook page.
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