Schoolgirl raises £11,820 to 'help fund a cure for daddy'

Charley Talbot-Butler decided to join the Walk All Over Cancer Campaign 2021 for Cancer Research UK.

The eight-year-old pledged to walk 10,000 steps every day in March and set a target of £200.

Amazingly, the Kingsmead Primary School pupil completed 440,957 steps and has raised a phenomenal £11,820.

Charley received a medal from Cancer Research UK for her incredible achievement

Charley received a medal from Cancer Research UK for her incredible achievement

"I can't tell you how proud I am of this little girl," said dad, Nick, 50, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer, six years ago.

Charley and dad Nick

Charley and dad Nick

"Even when she was feeling poorly one day she still got out of bed and did her steps."

After a stem cell transplant and chemotherapy, Nick went into remission until a relapse last October. Now, following further treatment, he is back in full remission.

"It is treatable and I'm feeling fine," said Nick, whose boss, chief executive John Taylor at Rigby Capital Ltd, has match funded the donations.

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Charley, who walked every day with her Cockapoo Bobbie, said: "It sounded like a fun way to help my daddy and everybody else with cancer get better."

Charley walked every day with her mum and Cockapoo Bobbie

Charley walked every day with her mum and Cockapoo Bobbie

Mum Joy, 47, said: "She has loved every minute of it and enjoyed exploring the local area.

"I am really proud that she has wanted to do this every day herself. She kept motivated all the way through. She has not moaned once.

"She is a very kind person, always wants to try and help everyone."

Charley is learning the piano and plays netball at Northwich Sapphires.

Charley with sisters, from left, Lucy, Olivia, mum Joy, dad Nick and Cockapoo Bobbie

Charley with sisters, from left, Lucy, Olivia, mum Joy, dad Nick and Cockapoo Bobbie

"The support from the local community has been incredible," said Joy. "We want to thank everyone for their donations and all the kind words and messages they have sent to us.

"Charley is astonished by how much she has raised."

Charley and her family want to thank everyone for their donations

Charley and her family want to thank everyone for their donations

Tallulah Woods, acquisition manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Charley for taking on the Walk All Over Cancer challenge to help raise vital funds.

"She is a truly inspirational little girl and we can’t thank her enough for her amazing support. Every step that Charley she has taken will help our brilliant scientists and their lifesaving work.

“Cancer Research UK has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer. However, we have only been able to do this thanks to the dedication and commitment of supporters, without whom we would not be able to fund our research.

"Every year around 42,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the north west. But we will never stop. With the support of people like Charley and her family, we are absolutely determined to continue to create better cancer treatments for tomorrow.”

To donate visit fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/joys-walk-all-over-cancer-fundraising-page-42