A fundraiser to help a brave schoolgirl battling cancer see New York has passed the £14,000 mark.
Olivia Atkinson, six, of Huyton, has been undergoing treatment since early 2020 when she was diagnosed with stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma after initially developing a suspected sinus infection. Olivia and her family were recently hit with further heartbreak with doctors expressing concern that despite being clear of cancer at the moment, it will probably return with a recommendation against further treatment and instead to focus on creating precious memories.
Her situation has inspired separate fundraising appeals, with one initially set up by her mum Kellie Atkinson, 43, having passed £10,351 and another by her aunty Lucy Hunt bringing in more than £3,780. Support has swept in from a variety of sources including Olivia's cousin Harley Hunt who attends Year 6 at Westfield Primary School in Runcorn and who raised £201.92 in for his mum Lucy's appeal by holding a toy sale attended by pupils, parents and carers on Friday.
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The ECHO reported earlier this month how Olivia's mum Kellie had launched an appeal as she spoke of her determination to make her "loved and cherished" daughter's dream of seeing the Statue of Liberty and wider New York a reality.
Olivia's dad Kevin Atkinson has now also spoke with the ECHO, as he revealed how his "legs went" when he first learned the "nightmare" diagnosis back in 2020.
Speaking through tears on Thursday, he said Olivia initially developed a sore cheek, prompting her parents to seek medical advice, but after taking her to different hospitals, their doctor and the opticians, Kevin and Kellie took Olivia to Whiston where doctors asked her to look one way and then another, and when one of her eyes didn’t move, medics realised there was a tumour pressing on a nerve.
She was transferred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where the family was hit by the cancer diagnosis. Describing that moment, Kevin said: “My legs went, Kellie had to hold me up.”
Since then, brave Olivia has endured testing and treatment including chemotherapy, and although her system is clear at the moment, the cancer had spread to her bone marrow, and although they “got rid of it”, it appeared again in her lungs and it’s feared it will probably return, with possible treatment options already tried.
Kevin, 47, said he and Kellie are separated at the moment after the difficulties of the last three years, and he now lives in Kirkby while Olivia is with her mum.
His voice breaking with emotion from the “terrible time” and "nightmare" they’ve been through, he said Olivia's family is keeping its “fingers crossed” the cancer won't return.
Olivia has made it this far though, and her plight has inspired family members to try to give the family some support to make sure their time together is special and to create “magical memories”.
Lucy has launched a fundraising appeal, and her son Harley - Olivia’s cousin - has organised a toy sale this Friday at Westfield Primary School in Runcorn where he attends in Year 6 and will be assisted by a friend to hold the event, which is expected to give fellow pupils, parents and carers the chance to support the appeal by buying some toys.
A spokeswoman for the school told the ECHO that parents had made “lots of donations”.
The ECHO reported last week how Kellie had set up an appeal - separate to Lucy's - and was hoping to raise enough money to fulfil Olivia's hope of visiting New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty.
Asked what types of memories Olivia might like, Kevin said: “Oh God she wants to do everything - she wants to go to New York, to go to Disneyland.
“She wants to do everything.
“She’s a child and half her life has been with this, having lines hanging out of her body and with the chemo, she’s been poked and prodded.”
He added: “I’m trying to stay positive with the situation we’re in.
“There’s just no words for the way I feel."
Kevin continued: “I just feel so sorry for her.
“If I could take it away (I would).”
Olivia’s aunt Lucy’s gofundme appeal had already raised more than £3,500 at time of writing, with the aim of raising “as much money as possible to create as many magical memories as possible for our beautiful Olivia”.
Support the appeal here.
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