THE Barrow community has rallied together in a year of lockdowns and Covid variants, raising tens of thousands of pounds for heartfelt causes.

In another year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Barrow community has gone above and beyond for local causes.

Among those was a fundraiser for aspiring nurse from Barrow, Chloe Austin, who was involved in a major accident at a fairground in August.

The 20-year-old, who works as an assistant practitioner at Risedale Care Home in Barrow, was transferred to Royal Preston Hospital in a critical condition following the accident, where she remained until the end of November.

The nursing student suffered two gashes to the head, a broken nose, two broken collar bones, a broken left elbow, three broken ribs, a shattered pelvis, a leg fracture as well as organ damage to her bladder, bowel, spleen, and liver.

After three weeks in a coma and numerous operations, Chloe feels ‘lucky to be alive’ and is determined on ‘smashing’ her recovery.

After the accident, a fundraising page was set up online, raising thousands of pounds for Chloe and her family in a matter of days.

Currently, the Just Giving page has raised more than £5,000.

Another fundraiser which the Barrow community rallied around was for 16-year-old Madison Elliott who has been diagnosed with stage four cancer.

The Barrow Sixth Form Student had been suffering with ‘intense back pain’ over the course of a number of months, along with other symptoms, and was told following tests that she had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which is a rare, aggressive blood cancer of the lymphatic system

Madison is now undergoing treatment at The Christie in Manchester, travelling to the hospital for scans, consultations, and chemotherapy.

A fundraiser has been set up on behalf of the Barrow teen, which raised more than £4,100 in just two days.

Mum Emma said: "I can’t find the right words to thank everyone for the amazing generosity that has been shown.

“Overwhelmed and incredibly grateful are in no way enough to describe how it feels to have a huge pressure alleviated.

“Thank you to every single person who has donated, shared the link, planned their own fundraisers and got in touch with supportive words. The kindness of both people we know and complete strangers will never be forgotten.”

Earlier in the year, dozens of determined walkers trekked 100 miles from Anfield Stadium to Barrow in memory of avid football fan and dad-of-three Gareth ‘Nico’ Nicholson who died aged 49 of cancer.

On the week which would have been his 50th birthday, Mr Nicholson’s family members, friends, junior football coaches and fellow Liverpool FC supporters began the mammoth walk in his memory.

More than £20,000 was raised for St Mary’s Hospice and for Mr Nicholson’s son’s football team through the fundraising walk.

Barry Fitzsimmons, who was friends with Mr Nicholson’s for 35 years, said he was ‘overwhelmed’ by the kindness and generosity of others.

Earlier this month, more than £10,000 was raised to support the family of 11-year-old Harley Anderson who has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Hundreds of people braved the cold and wind to take part in a fundraising walk for the Barrow pupil.

The fundraiser was initially set up to help with travel costs but after the overwhelming support of the community, the extra money will go towards more entertainment equipment like PlayStation consoles to keep the children occupied during their long stays in hospital.

Kayleigh Whiteside, Harley's mum, said: "Harley has been absolutely amazing throughout all of this; he has his good days and bad days.

"We laugh and smile and other times we've cuddled and cried.

"This boy’s strength and bravery we'll forever admire. He is our real-life superhero."