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Cash still pours in for Oliver

Oliver Smith with the Wayne Rooney shirt donated to raise money for his appeal
Oliver Smith with the Wayne Rooney shirt donated to raise money for his appeal

Money is still pouring in for Oliver Smith a month after we first told of the toddler's plight.

Since we first ran the story of the two-year-old's battle against the childhood cancer neuroblastoma, Islanders have worked tirelessly to help.

His family are hoping to raise £150,000 which he will need for treatment if his condition gets worse.

On Saturday and Sunday, a group of fundraisers led by Gemma Record, a friend of Oliver's mum Natalie, went round shops, pubs and businesses in Sheerness, Queenborough and Leysdown.

Minster resident Gemma and her friends, who were dressed in neon outfits, managed to collect more than £2,000 from shoppers and residents.

She said: "It was fantastic.

"I couldn't believe it - the support has been overwhelming."

Another fundraiser is 12-year-old Isle of Sheppey Academy pupil Lauren Ford.

Lauren, of Stanley Avenue, Queenborough, decided to bake cakes to sell and her efforts raised £180, which she presented to Oliver's uncle Paul Mason.

New Road Community Centre put on a version of George and the Dragon last week and a raffle held among the audience raised £106.

Gemma Record and friends raising money in Sheerness
Gemma Record and friends raising money in Sheerness

Eastchurch Primary School organised a non-uniform day and collected £245 and Isle of Sheppey Academy pupils did the same and raised £1,900.

Another donation which could raise money for the appeal has come from Bill and Julie McIntosh, who lost their 18-year-old daughter Charlotte to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008.

At the time, they raised money for Medway Maritime Hospital in Charlotte's memory and they have a Manchester United shirt worn by Wayne Rooney, which they were given to raise money for their cause.

They decided to donate the shirt to Natalie in the hope it can raise extra funds for the appeal.


When the Times Guardian first reported about Oliver, of Coral Road, Minster, his family had raised £795.

We appealed for each Islander to donate just £3.90 to potentially help save his life.

Oliver Smith, two
Oliver Smith, two

The fundraising total has now reached £13,639, meaning our kind-hearted readers have raised almost £13,000 in a month.

The money is to pay for a trip to Germany for treatment, should Oliver relapse, because there is no UK relapse protocol.

There he would have RIST therapy which involves the use of chemotherapy drugs with two anticancer agents.

Oliver is having immuno-therapy, which is the last available treatment for him in the UK.

After his most recent hospital appointment, Natalie said they are hopeful he could have his feeding tube removed within the next few weeks.

The 28-year-old mum of one is a member of Families Against Neuroblastoma (FAN) which is a charity aiming to support families and fund research.

Cash donations can be left in the Times Guardian office where we have a collection box.


Upcoming events to raise money for the appeal include:

  • A quiz at the Sheerness East Working Men's Club on Friday.
  • The Heights of Alma in Sheerness is hosting a fun day on Saturday.
  • An auction at the Gourmet Munch in Leysdown Road, also on Saturday.
  • Sponsored toddle at Woodlands nursery in Minster Road, Minster, on Tuesday, August 9.
  • On Saturday, August 13, there will be a fun day atSheppey Sports and Social Club in Halfway, noon-5pm.
  • A Gangsters and Molls charity night at Minster Working Men's Club on Friday, September 9.
  • Pepe Kaur's Free Spirit children's party on Sunday, September25, at Tiny Tim's Tea Rooms in Rochester.
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