Fun day to raise funding for 'little soldier'

BRAVE . . . Elliott Ardill during his treatment

RESIDENTS are invited to a special fundraising event to send a six-year-old boy on the trip of his dreams.

'Little soldier' Elliott Ardill was diagnosed with a rare form of leukaemia in November and given a 50/50 chance of survival.

The Oldham Chronicle previously reported that the youngster, who is a pupil at Woodhouses Voluntary Primary School, was receiving chemotherapy at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital.

Brave Elliott, who lives with mum Chelsea Limerick in Bardsley, is fighting biphenotypic acute leukaemia, which attacks the white blood cells and bone marrow.

He has had to undergo radiotherapy, at The Christie, which was followed by a bone marrow transplant three weeks ago at the Children's Hospital.

Family member Joey Matthews is organising tomorrow's event to help fund a holiday to Disneyland Paris next year. Fundraising pages have already raised more than £2,000.

Joey said: "Elliott suffered terribly from the effects of chemotherapy. He was often too weak to lift his head from the pillow, he had to be fed through tubes and he suffered a dramatic weight loss."

The family are now awaiting the results of the transplant, due in one week, which will hopefully bring Elliott's Disney dream another step closer.

Mum Chelsea said: "Elliott is doing well. We are seeing small steps of progress. We are just hoping the results come through positive."

Dad Chris Ardill, from Limeside, said: "It is very rare that the transplant does not work, which is really positive.

"Elliott is being monitored around the clock, but is doing brilliantly at the moment. We hope that he will be able to go on his dream trip next year."

He added: "The hospital staff have been absolutely amazing and the support from family has been unbelievable. I cannot thank them enough."

When discharged from hospital Elliott will not be able to return to school for a further six months to allow for a recovery period.

In a huge show of support for the six-year-old, family and friends are gearing up for the charity fun day at the White Hart in Royton tomorrow.

Joey said: "I can't even imagine what they are going through. It is so touch and go, and we want to put some money aside so that if Elliott gets through this, rainy days don't have to be rainy days anymore."

During the fun day there will be cake stalls, sweet carts, face-painting, raffles, a bouncy castle and barbecue.

There will also be an auction complete with a signed Manchester United match ball and T-shirt, and a Take That Wonderland Ticket.

A line-up of 15 singers and entertainment, including Pete Young as Meat Loaf, Dom Collins and Danny Maddocks, is scheduled for the event, which kicks off at 1pm and runs until midnight.