Brave 11-year-old fighting cancer holds bake sales to raise money for fellow patients

In August last year, Chloe (11) was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH), a condition that affects around one in every 200,000 children a year in the UK.

LCH is a disorder in which excess immune system cells, called Langerhans cells, build up in the body.

These cells help regulate the immune system and are normally found throughout the body in the skin, lymph nodes, spleen, lungs, liver and bone marrow but excess cells can cause damage tissue or cause tumours.

The condition has mainly affected Chloe in her spine and it has left her with permanent damage, that has restricted her movement, caused pain and forced her to give up her passion for horse riding.

Her mother Rebecca said: “At first we just thought she just had a curved spine (Scoliosis) but we got a call while on holiday to tell us she had been diagnosed with LCH and we just spent the whole weekend crying.

“Over the course of the last year she had lots of blood tests, MRIs and it was 50/50 whether she was going to have a biopsy. Doctors decided that would be too dangerous though and she has instead undertaken a series of alternative therapies and been prescribed medication.

“She’s been really amazing throughout it all though.”

Chloe has been supported every step of the way by her family as well as her best friend Erin. Together the two of them came up with the idea of a bake sale, made leaflets, baked the cakes and cookies and went door to door in Glinton and Bourne advertising their event, which took place outside of their homes in each location.

Both of their sisters, Hollie and Nina, also lent their support.

The initial goal was to raise £100 but that to be increased to £500 after theyreached the target with ease. Thanks to the generosity of neighbours, the total raised currently stands at £391.

Rebecca added: “The girls came up with the idea completely by themselves. We (the parents) weren’t sure how they were going to do it, we thought we’d help them out a bit by buying the cakes but they said no, they wanted to do all the baking themselves and they’d already made leaflets.

“The support from neighbours has been unbelievable, people have been more than generous. Some people have even come up and said they don’t want a cake but just want to give money.”

Chloe has plans for future bake sales to raise money for Addenbrooke’s Hospital, the place where she receives most of her treatment and the family says they have had amazing support every time they’ve walked theough the door.

The girls are still looking to reach their £500 target and their JustGiving page can be found by clicking here.