A tractor run will be held next month to raise money for children with cancer on behalf of a young girl who was diagnosed last year.
Five-year-old Willow Hicks, from Bishop Auckland, was diagnosed with a stage four Wilms’ tumour in August last year.
On her behalf, a tractor run is being staged through the County Durham countryside to raise funds for Children’s Cancer North.
It will be the third charity road run organised by Rachel Anderson, from West Auckland, and Martyn Hodgson, and will meet in Woodland, near Bishop Auckland, at 10am on May 19.
Rachel said: “David Hicks, Willow’s dad, came in to see if we would fancy raising money on behalf of Willow for the charity, so we said yes.
“We are doing it support a local farmer’s daughter. We wish Willow all the best.”
The route, arranged by Harry Nixon, will cover 45 miles, with stops made between various farms for breaks and a lunch, where a raffle will be held.
Quite a few donations of prizes have already been received, including a chicken shed from Hodgson’s Timber.
Last year 75 tractors took part in the event, and similar numbers are expected this year.
“We want to thank everyone who has supported us over the years,” added Rachel. “We are so grateful for how everyone gets involved.”
Entry to the tractor run costs £10, more details are available on Facebook by searching for “Martyn & Rachel’s Charity Road Run”.
Speaking about her daughter’s diagnosis last year, Willow’s mother, Rebecca Gargett, 34, from Bishop Auckland, said she had found a “rock solid” lump on the little girl’s abdomen in August.
After visiting an urgent care centre where they were told it could be an ear infection or appendicitis, and a trip to A&E, her daughter was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle
A CT scan then identified a 12.8cm mass on her right kidney, with the cancer also having spreading to her lungs, and she began treatment.
The family went on to raise £8,679 for the RVI’s paediatric oncology ward.
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