A FUNDRAISING event is taking place today (August 27) to raise money for a teenage boy’s cancer treatment.
Mike Facherty, also known as the Henley Santa, will be doing a virtual reading of two children’s books he has written.
The event is being held to raise money for Charlie Ilsley from Emmer Green who was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, the most high-grade brain tumour found in children when he was eight years old.
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In June, Charlie flew to Mexico for potentially life-saving treatment and has since returned to Mexico for a follow up scan which showed his “cancer is stable meaning no growth since March”, mum Toni said.
Now back home, Charlie will be heading back to Mexico with his mum in September where he will have another scan and a discussion with the doctor.
They plan to stay there for about seven days and will need to raise money for the flights, scan and accommodation.
To help raise money, Mike will be doing a book reading online at 4pm today.
The session is free but donations are welcomed.
He explained the session will be between 15 and 20 minutes long and will include a story about a gingerbread man being rescued by a pirate.
Mike has helped to fundraise for Charlie in the past having done a similar story telling event at a summer fete last year.
He has also written his own children’s books where he donated proceeds to Charlie’s fundraiser.
When speaking about why he wanted to help the Ilsley family, Mike said: “It’s such a good cause.
“They are so desperate to get this extra money so they can go back to Mexico again.”
Toni explained Mike is “so lovely” and “a brilliant storyteller”.
She added that Charlie is “good” and has started physio therapy again this week.
Toni said he is hoping to go back to school on September 7 but will go in from 9am until 1pm.
To join the story telling session, visit Zoom and use the meeting ID: 908 626 8090 and passcode: story.
If you would like to support the Chronicle’s campaign and help raise money for Charlie’s treatment visit the Facebook page ‘URGENT APPEAL! Charlie’s chance to kick cancer’ or click here.
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