Cricketing tribute day to help Millie’s Disney trip

Millie Moran with gran Vicky Shaw and mum Heather Clarke

A MEMORIAL event to honour a Royton cricketing stalwart is being dedicated to helping make a Disney dream come true for a very special little girl.

The family behind the Trevor Lewis Annual Fun Day has chosen to support a crusade to send four-year-old Mille Moran to Disneyland as well as raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation.

Trevor's family organised the original fun day at Royton Cricket Club in 2014 to support Asbestos Victims Support and Mesothelioma UK. Trevor (62) sadly died from mesothelioma two days before it was held.

This will be the third year it's been staged alongside a cricket match for the Trevor Lewis Memorial Cup, a game between "Trevors 11" - a team of his family and close friends - and other local players.

Trevor's daughter, Gillian Taylor, says she had the pleasure of meeting Millie when she called into her restaurant, Jack's Smokehouse, in Yorkshire Street, Oldham, with her mum Emma Clarke a few weeks ago.

When she saw the Chronicle story about her family's dream to send brave Millie - who was born with a rare form of spina bifida and hydrocephalus and suffers from epilepsy, chronic lung disease and is paralysed from the waist down due to a three inch gap in spine - to Disneyland she said she just wanted to help.

"I was chatting away to Millie and she was such a gorgeous little girl," said Gillian.

"Then a couple of weeks later I saw the story about wanting to raise money to take her to Disneyland and I thought it was a good cause to support with our fun day. We'd love to help out."

Gillian, her mum Maureen, sisters Elisabeth Lindley and Heather Jacombs, and Royton Cricket Club members are behind the event on May 2 which has raised thousands for charity so far.

Millie's gran Vicky Shaw, from Springhead, who promised she'd take her to Disneyland following her miraculous recovery from a life-threatening virus last year, says she and Emma are over the moon about the gesture.

"It's such a lovely thing to do for Millie and we can't thank the family enough," said Vicky who is desperately saving and selling her possessions to help pay for the trip.

"We've been overwhelmed by the generosity of local people and this is another example."

Generous local firms are still being sought to pledge a minimum sponsor of £100 to help pay for attractions for the fundraiser and raffle prizes.

From 12.30pm at the Bransdale Avenue club there will be fun for all the family including side shows, a bouncy castle, princesses, face painting, raffles, tombolas, food, music and lots more.

If you'd like to help out call Elisabeth on 07989 577910.