Fundraising night brings in £6,000 for brave Riley (From York Press)

Fundraising night brings in £6,000 for brave Riley Plant

8:06am Thursday 9th August 2012 in News By Kate Liptrot, kate.liptrot@thepress.co.uk

A FUNDRAISING evening for a brave young cancer sufferer has raised an estimated £6,000 to help his family make his summer as special as possible.

It had been hoped that 19-month-old Riley Plant would be well enough to go on a dream holiday with his family to Disneyland but as his health has begun to deteriorate, serious worries have been raised about him travelling overseas.

Doctors have expressed concerns that the Burnholme youngster, whose cancer is terminal, may have developed a second brain tumour and his doses of morphine have been increased.

But his parents Gavin, 24, and Lindsay, 25, and sisters Ebony and Kelsy, are determined to make the coming weeks and months as special as possible.

They have taken Riley on a string of local breaks and day trips, including stays in Skegness and Ribby Hall in Preston, and are planning visits to Primrose Valley near Filey and Flamingo Land.

The trips have been funded by the Smiley Riley Fund, which last Saturday hosted an event and auction at David Lloyd Leisure Club in Hull Road, York, raising £5,450 with an expected £6,000 to be collected in total.

Simone Potter, Riley’s grandmother, said: “We are trying to give them as much quality time together as we can so they can create lots of memories with Riley.

“We are giving as much money as we can so they can have as much quality time as possible to do things every day.

“They are trying to do all the things Riley has never done. He has been poorly since November last year. There’s a lot of things we have never been able to do.

“Now he is on medication at least they can get on and do the things they wanted to do with the help from the fund.”

Last weekend’s event was organised with the help of Jeanette Husband, David Lloyd Leisure Club, Michelle Smith and many others, Mrs Potter said.

She said they hoped to continue fundraising in the future, with the aim of working with Candlelighters and Macmillan to support families with travel and living costs while looking after children in hospital.

Riley, who is a finalist in the Community Pride awards for his cheeriness and bravery in coping with his illness, was also christened last weekend at a private family service at St Hilda’s Church.

• A race night and raffle is being held at the Beeswing pub in Hull Road on Saturday from 7pm until midnight in aid of the Smiley Riley Fund. Tickets cost £5.