#4AVA

We are Rosalind Bell and Emma Dewar, friends of the Stokes family from Ormskirk, Lancashire. 

Ava Stokes is an incredible 4 year old, who is battling cancer for a second time.

When she was just 19 months Ava was diagnosed with Hepatoblastoma, a rare cancer affecting her liver. It had also spread to her lungs. She underwent intensive chemotherapy treatment and lung surgery at Alder Hey, and eventually a liver transplant in August 2014 at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

She returned to nursery shortly afterwards and started preschool in January this year.

Just when everything was returning to normal, Ava became unwell in April this year, and was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). The likely cause of the leukaemia is the treatment she received for her liver tumour.

Even though she's so young, the way she deals with each round of treatment is inspirational. She is always full of energy, singing and laughing her way through most days. She is our hero!

She now needs a life saving bone marrow transplant at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, to cure the leukaemia.

Throughout this challenging time Ava has received help from many charities, big and small, such as CHICS, Clic Sargant, Nicola's Fund and CCLG. These charities have brought Ava joy and happiness when she needs it most. There are also no words to convey just how grateful Ava's family and friends are to all the medical professionals and support staff at Alder Hey, Birmingham Children's Hospital and Manchester Children's Hospital. They dedicate their lives to helping Ava and children just like her.

Since her first diagnosis, her courage and spirit have inspired a great deal of fundraising.  Led largely by Heaney Watson (under the #4AVA banner) approx £25,000 has been donated to Alder Hey and other charities in Ava's name. We are all dedicated to continue this fundraising, and felt that it would be timely for these funds to benefit Ava and her family in some way as they have always put others first.

All funds raised will be passed to Ava's parents, Kelly and Mark Stokes, and will be used to pay for a combination of; treats for Ava and her brother Alex in the coming weeks as Ava spends time in isolation following the bone marrow transplant and expenses incurred by Ava's family associated to her time in hospital. In addition, whilst we sincerely hope that further treatment is not required, should Ava require any additional treatment not covered by the NHS any funds raised would be used to cover these costs.

Any amount remaining would be donated to Alder Hey, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Manchester Children's Hospital, and/or Hepatoblastoma and Leukaemia research.

Only the world class Doctors and Nurses working for our amazing NHS can make Ava better. But we can make her smile, and show her family how inspiring and courageous Ava is. We'll be arranging various activities over the coming weeks and months and every donation, big or small, will mean the world to Ava and her family. And if you are inspired by this beautiful, courageous little girl please feel free to organise your own event!

Anyone who has met Ava would say that they've never met anyone like her. Her diagnosis does not define her in any way. She's defined by her drive, fight and beautiful shining spirt. Together we can show her we see that. Together we can use that to change her world.
#4AVA