Brother and sister lend Jake a hand

12:29pm Friday 7th December 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

IT was all systems go at the Grange School in Hartford in a bid to raise money for a Kingsmead boy with cancer.

Five-year-old Jacob Marsland is suffering from a rare and agressive form of childhood cancer and has not reponded to chemotherapy.

I’m really proud, he’s done all this off his own back because he was so touched after reading the story in the Guardian about Jacob.

Christy's mum, Jane

If an intensive radiation treatment in London fails, a £250,000 pioneering operation in New York could be his only hope.

Pupil Christy Wronko, 13 and his sister Casey, 18, pulled out all the stops at the school's Christmas fair on Saturday by hosting a wine and water stall.

Christy got local businesses to donate bottles of wine and Vital Signs in Northwich made a free banner for the stall.

The young entrepreneur Christy is also in the process of organising a Northwich-wide school dress down day to raise money for little Jake.

His mum Jane said: "I'm really proud, he's done all this off his own back because he was so touched after reading the story in the Guardian about Jacob."

To keep the fundraising going, the school is now challenging children and their families to complete a sponsored 10 mile activity, such as a family walk, cycle, jog or swim, for Jacob. Every 15 minutes of physical activity is equal to one mile activity.

If you would like to take part, please call Pippa at the school on 01606 74007.

Jake is currently in isolation at University College in London while he receives a specialist radiation treatment.

If you would like to send him a card or message of support, please post it to Jacob Marsland, University College Hospital, 11th Floor Children's inpatient Unit, 235 Euston Road, London NW1 2BU.