A tractor road run will be held next month to raise money for children with cancer on behalf of a young girl who was diagnosed last year.
Rachel Anderson, 41, from West Auckland, will be raising funds alongside Martyn Hodgson for Children’s Cancer North with their third charity road run.
The money will be raised on behalf of five-year-old Willow, who was diagnosed with a Stage 4 Wilms’ tumour in August last year.
The fundraiser will be held in Woodland in Bishop Auckland at 10am on May 19.
Ms Anderson said the fundraiser came about this year after David Hicks, Willow’s father, approached them to see if they would raise money on her behalf.
She said: “David Hicks, Willow’s dad, came in to see if we would fancy raising money on behalf of Willow for the charity, so we said yes.
“We are doing it support a local farmer’s daughter.
“It’s normally local farmers and people who have the old vintage tractors, everybody just comes out and supports [us].
“We wish Willow all the best and hopefully she gets the all okay. We want to thank everyone who has supported us over the years.”
Speaking to The Northern Echo last year, Willow’s mother, Rebecca Gargett, 34, from Bishop Auckland, said she had discovered the tumour after finding a “rock solid” lump on her daughter’s abdomen in August.
After visiting a local urgent care centre where they were told it could be an ear infection or appendicitis, and a trip to A&E, her daughter was taken Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle.
She was given Willow’s diagnosis following a CT scan which identified a 12.8cm mass on her right kidney, with the cancer also having spreading to her lungs.
A GoFundMe was set up on behalf of Willow by Ms Gargett, who was able to raise £8,679 for the RVI’s paediatric oncology ward
The event will see a 45-mile run undertaken, with stops made between various local farms for breaks and a lunch, where a raffle will be held to raise money for the cause.
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She added the fundraiser has so far received quite a few donations to be used as raffle prizes – including a chicken shed from Hodgson’s Timber.
She said those taking part in the road run pay £10 each, and this will all go towards the charity.
The charity event saw 75 tractors take part last year, and 65 the year after – but Ms Anderson is expecting more than 70 to take to the road at this year’s event.
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