The five-year-old daughter of a man diagnosed with motor neurone disease has taken part in a sponsored colour run at her school and helped raise more than £1,000 for treatment to help extend her dad’s life.
Stevenage man Scott Everett was given the devastating diagnosis in March and told he has less than three years to live.
The 46-year-old’s family are raising £30,000 so he can have stem cell treatment in Moscow, as well as a new drug called Radicut, in a bid to prolong his life so he can spend as much time as possible with his daughters – two-year-old Evie and five-year-old Anna.
Anna, a pupil at Roebuck Primary School and Nursery in Stevenage, took part in a sponsored colour run which saw her entire school - including teachers - take part, getting showered in coloured powder as they ran past stations along the course.
Scott’s wife, Catherine, also got involved. She said: “It was the most fun I have had in a long time. I went round the course a couple of times with Anna and it was just brilliant.
“I’d like to say a massive thank you to the Roebuck School Association and the wider community for their support, enthusiasm and generosity.”
Having raised about £26,000 through fundraising activities so far, Scott has now begun the application process for the Moscow treatment and is looking to travel out in September.
He has progressive bulbar palsy, which affects speech and swallowing before spreading to the rest of the body, so he is finding it increasingly difficult to speak clearly.
The Everett family have been overwhelmed by the support from the community, but Catherine said: “It’s bittersweet. We realise what we are doing it all for.
“Scott’s speech has deteriorated and he’s getting tired, but he’s still incredibly positive and putting on a brave face.”
The family have been forced to postpone a fundraising golf day at Broxbourne’s Hertfordshire Golf and Country Club on July 26 due to poor ticket sales, but are planning the event for September instead. If you would like to register your interest, email scottneedsstemcells@gmail.com
A Facebook page, ‘Fundraising for Scott’, has been set up to co-ordinate the fundraising events, and donations can be made by visiting gofundme.com/scott-needs-stem-cells.
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