Residents and businesses in Ladybank have been rallying to support a brave five-year-old girl and her efforts to raise funds for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.
Holly Elder, a primary one pupil at Ladybank Primary, was born was a rare genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis type one and, when she was three, this was compounded when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
Holly’s mother, Vicky Donald, told The Courier that a special fundraising event is planned for April 26 in Ladybank Youth Club, with all the proceeds going towards the hospital’s ward two.
The event will feature a bouncy castle, face painting and various other fun activities.
With Holly’s chemotherapy due to finish on May 22, Vicky said she hopes more people will help Holly to reach her fundraising target of at least £1,000.
She said: “Holly initially wanted all her Christmas presents to go to the sick kids’ hospital, to say thank you for all the help she’d had there.
“But when we told her that a lot of the presents would not be to other children’s taste, the compromise was a fundraising event with proceeds going towards the specialist nurses in the ward.”
Vicky said Holly’s condition affects her hip movements, spine and legs and she has to walk in braces. She is also covered in kauf-lait spots from head to foot and, as she gets older, these will likely get worse.
Yet despite her ongoing hospital treatment, she said brave Holly treats chemotherapy as “one big, huge adventure”, adding: “She does get upset with the needles but there’s not one single person who doesn’t admire her strength and courage when they meet her.”
Vicky, who is married to Holly’s stepfather Gary Donald, said Holly receives great support from the family. She has three sisters Hannah-Louise Elder, six; Kaylynn Donald, three; and Tuliya Donald, aged 10 months.
She also has a stepsister and stepbrother.
She said the whole community had been “chipping in” and added: “I can’t emphasise enough how supportive friends have been. The whole community and businesses have been absolutely brilliant 110%.”
Anyone wishing to donate can do so via www.justgiving.com/local/project/helpholly.