An amazing young Gulls fan will be trekking 15 miles across Dartmoor next month, and it’s all for a fantastic cause.
Ellia has already proven to be a lucky charm for TUFC this year, having been a guest of the club for United’s Play-Off Semi-Final win over Dorking last May. Now, having completed that task, she’s about to take on her next challenge.
What makes our young supporter’s fundraising efforts for OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity even more remarkable is that Ellia herself was diagnosed with brain tumour twelve months ago.
Despite enduring weekly trips to hospital as part of her extensive course of treatment, inspirational Ellia, supported by her dad Dan Smith and the rest of the family, is determined to help others.
After raising over £10,000 for the Little Princess Trust – a charity that provides wigs to children having chemotherapy – she is now setting her sights on raising awareness and funds for OSCAR’s, a charity who have been helping to support her during the past year.
Since being diagnosed, OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity have assisted by sending booster boxes in the post and have also funded sessions of play therapy to help Ellia understand her emotions throughout this testing period.
With OSCAR’s presence beginning to extend to the South West of England, Ellia has committed to do all she can to raise money and help other children facing a similar diagnosis, and amazingly, she has already smashed through her original fundraising target.
Ahead of the trek taking place on Saturday, July 11th, Ellias’ online fundraising page has received widespread support, with her initial target of £500 more than doubled with a month to go! With every single pound raised directly benefitting OSCAR’s and helping them to support children with brain tumours and their families, the fundraising efforts are continuing though, with OSCAR’s also pledging to raise awareness of signs and symptoms of this terrible disease, and also fund research into better and kinder treatments.
Torquay United will also be providing supporters with the opportunity to donate at our opening home pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday, 21st July (7.30pm KO), with a bucket collection being held at Plainmoor. All donations raised will then be passed on accordingly.
Best of luck with the walk, Ellia – we’re all right behind you!
About OSCAR’s
OSCAR’s Paediatric Brain Tumour Charity was set up in memory of Oscar Hughes, a 9-year-old who died of a brain tumour in 2014. His journey was heartbreaking yet inspiring. OSCAR’s aims to provide support and care to children with brain tumours, raise awareness to help diagnosis and fund research into better treatments.
Further information regarding OSCAR’s fantastic work is available at www.oscarspbtc.org
