A NINE-YEAR-OLD leukaemia patient proudly handed over a cheque for £12,470 to a hospital which has helped him on the road to recovery.
Archie Andrews and his friends and family raised the money to help revamp children's oncology ward E38 at the Queen's Medical Centre, where he has been receiving treatment.
The money has been raised by a number of events including raffles, head shaves, runs, busking, a poker night, curry night and cake sales.
Archie, of Botany Close, Compton Acres, was diagnosed with the illness when he was nearly four. He received intensive treatment and his family thought he had beaten it, but in May this year it returned.
Since then, people in West Bridgford have come together to raise money.
Archie's mum, Nicki, 43, said: "Archie has been really impressed with the fundraising. He was really chuffed when he presented the cheque on Monday."
Archie, who goes to Heymann Primary School, is about to start a week-long course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Sheffield Children's Hospital. He will then have a stem-cell transplant there, using cells from his three-year-old brother Harvey's hip bone.
Nicki, a mum of three, said she hoped he will then finally be able to fully recover.
She said: "He's been very unwell. He's had intensive chemotherapy at the QMC since 2006. He's also had numerous operations because of the side-effects. The doctors said the best chance of a cure is to have a stem-cell transplant."
She added she was delighted with everyone's fundraising efforts, which started after her friend Deirdre Bencsik set up a Just Giving charity website.
"We are very grateful to everybody that has been involved. We initially set a target of £5,000 and thought that was fairly ambitious but we have exceeded all expectations."
Boots Athletic football club has donated nearly £2,000, Heymann Primary School collected £850 from teachers who took park in the Ikano Robin Hood Half Marathon, and Notts Fire and Rescue Service held a bucket collection at Wheatcroft Garden Centre, Edwalton, on Saturday.
A charity golf day at Cotgrave Golf Club on October 7 raised £700 and other donations have come from Archie's former football club West Bridgford Colts and the Tracey Quaife Theatre School.
Cat Wills, staff nurse at the children's oncology day care unit, said: "We are all so happy with the money that Archie, his family and his community have raised for the ward.
"It will go a long way in helping us with our renovations to help improve patient care. I would like to thank them for the fantastic job they have done."
To donate to the Andrews' family's fundraising efforts, go to the website at www.justgiving.com/deirdre-bencsik.
