A PLUCKY young leukaemia patient has enjoyed a second Christmas thanks to a generous Westmorland Gazette reader, reports Beth Broomby.

Emily Holden, of Selside, received a £175 large-scale train set this week after being chosen from a pile of responses to an appeal featured in the newspaper.

As previously reported, Barbara Clay, of Levens, who lost her husband John to leukaemia ten years ago, wanted to find a deserving home for the bumper toy, which she had won in a draw at Quicksnaps, Kendal.

Emily's mother, Caroline, nominated her daughter, and Mrs Clay selected the five-year-old after reading of her 15-month battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, which nearly claimed the youngster's life.

But another letter written in response to the appeal prompted Kendal toy shop owner Graham O'Loughlin to donate a second train set.

Four-year-old Adam Lenartowicz of Ulverston was presented with his toy after family friends Dickon and Hazel Abbott nominated him as a deserving candidate for an engine.

Adam, who has cerebral palsy, is a big railway fan and one of the few really clear hand signals he can make is for a train.

Mrs Clay said she was torn between the two letters and was delighted when Mr O'Loughlin came to the rescue.

She added: "Leukaemia is something very close to my heart. I can understand exactly what Emily's mother means when she said her daughter has been dragged through hell and back."

This week there were smiles all round when Mrs Clay delivered the toy to Emily,

and curious little fingers set to work on trains, tracks and engines.

The Year one Selside Primary School pupil, diagnosed in September 2001 shortly after her fourth birthday, has written a special thank-you' card for Mrs Clay and said her new toy "was very, very nice."

Mrs Holden, whose daughter is treated at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, every week, said the family was "absolutely delighted" about the train set and said it would be shared with other children at the hospital.

"Emily takes it all in her stride because she thinks it is a normal way of life. She is a very strong girl."

Mrs Holden, also mother to Polly, three, and Ellie, 19 months, has helped to raise £17,000 for leukaemia research and £25,000 towards a lab technician at Pendlebury. She paid tribute to local people for their support.

January 3, 2003 09:30