£61,000 in a year for Angelina appeal (From Echo)

£61,000 in a year for Angelina appeal

9:00am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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A FAMILY who endured the loss of an adored child to a rare form of cancer have now raised more than £61,000 in her memory.

When she was only three, Angelina Vidler was diagnosed with Wilms’ tumour, a form of cancer which attacks the kidneys and renal system.

She was treated at London’s Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, but died in 2008.

In February last year, parents Hilary and Carl Vidler, set up the Angelina Our Star appeal, in memory of their daughter, with the aim of raising money for the hospital and awareness of Wilms’ tumour.

A year on, the appeal has raised £61,341, her family revealed on Friday.

Mrs Vidler, 40, said: “We are just a small local appeal and considering it has just been us and a group of friends, it has been fantastic.

“£61,000 in a year is amazing. It just shows everyone’s commitment and how much they care.

“It’s hard work, but it has been worth it.”

The eventual aim is to raise £100,000 for the hospital. Of the total raised so far, £36,000 has been donated to the Kiss it Better appeal, with the remainder earmarked for a cell research funding bid by Angelina’s consultant, Dr John Andersen. Kiss it Better raises money for research into childhood cancers.

Events organised by Angelina’s family have included a sunrise to sunset football match last May and in October, supporter Ann Kennelly won a place on the Fourth Plinth living art exhibition in Trafalgar Square, using her 60 minutes to tell people about the appeal and its aims. In November last year, a Peter Pan-themed party was held to celebrate what would have been Angelina’s seventh birthday.

The family held an appeal anniversary party at the weekend and the next event will be a barn dance on May 8 at the Potato Barn, in Shopland Road, Rochford.

Mrs Vidler said: “Angelina was so popular in her short little life.

“She did so much and touched so many people. Her friends talk about Angelina in such a lovely way, and have a little garden dedicated to her at school. They remember the good times and the happy times, not the sadness.”

Supported by relatives and friends, her parents have stayed strong for Angelina’s brother, William, five, and sister India, three, as well as sharing their experiences with others.

For more information about the appeal and to buy tickets for the barn dance, e-mail info@angelinaourstar.org.uk