Brave Jessica’s family give back to cancer charities that helped tot

Photo: David Hurst
Jessica Holmes, two, of Toulmin Close, Catterall near Garstang, who has leukaemia pictured with mum Mandy, dad Bob and brother Dylan Byers and the necklaces made from beads given to her each time she has some treatment — Photo: David Hurst Jessica Holmes, two, of Toulmin Close, Catterall near Garstang, who has leukaemia pictured with mum Mandy, dad Bob and brother Dylan Byers and the necklaces made from beads given to her each time she has some treatment

A FAMILY from Catterall are embarking on a series of fund-raisers for the charities that helped their daughter.

Jessica Holmes, three, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a cancer of the white blood cells, in 2013.

Twice her family were told that she wouldn’t make it through the night, but the brave youngster continues to fight the odds.

Now her family want to raise money for the charities that have helped their daughter along the way in her battle.

Mum Mandy Holmes said: “Because people have helped us so much in the past, we thought we would do fund raising and get money for them because it is just brilliant what they have done.

“If it wasn’t for the The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Manchester Hospital Jess wouldn’t be here.

“We asked them what they wanted and they would like bed screens, because there are only four rooms so screens in between the beds would give the children some privacy.”

The family have set up a go fund me page to raise money for the hospital but also want to raise money for cyclists fighting cancer, Leukaemia care, Super Shoes, Thomas Ball, Ronald House, Maddies Butterflies and Clic Sargent.

Mandy added: “Because of Jess’s treatment her muscles wasted away and cyclists fighting cancer made her a bike, which was really nice of them and Super Shoes made her some shoes with Cookie Monster and Peppa Pig on them which I think encouraged her to want to walk again.

“Clic Sargent have just been fantastic, they have really looked after us and helped us financially as well because before Jess got ill I had my own business but just over night that stopped to look after her, they’ve been there for whatever we needed.”

The family have already began their fund-raising challenge by donating clothes, bag packing in Sainsbury’s and Jessica’s dad Bob took part in November’s ‘Grow a Mow’ for charity.

They are close to reaching £500 so far with many other ideas for the next few months, including an Easter raffle for Super Shoes and psychic charity night.

To donate to Jessica’s cause go to: http://www.gofundme.com/luj91o