Heartfelt thanks
The mother of a boy with a rare form of cancer who needs treatment abroad, says she has been overwhelmed by people’s generosity after an appeal in the Advertiser.
Toby Clough (2) of Nottingham Road, Bingham, needs proton therapy, a form of radiotherapy only available for children at a clinic near Zurich, Switzerland.
He was diagnosed with alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in November when his mother, Mrs Claire Clough, noticed a small red mark under his eye.
His parents, Mr and Mrs Kyle Clough, need to raise at least £15,000 to cover the cost of making the trip.
It is hoped the NHS will contribute towards the estimated £60,000 cost of the treatment.
Since the appeal was published in last week’s Advertiser, Toby’s parents have been inundated with offers of support.
Mrs Clough said: “We have been overwhelmed by people’s generosity and willingness to help.
“We have been contacted by lots of people who want to do more. It’s fantastic news.
“As every parent will know, having children is an amazing experience and when you hear a child is sick it pulls on your heart strings.
“There are always cases of someone needing help in the local area so to have this sort of response is really humbling.”
Mrs Clough said people had really rallied around to help the family.
Among those pledging to support the Hope For Toby appeal was the Derby Country manager, Mr Nigel Clough, who met Toby at the official opening of the Butt Field Pavilion on Saturday.
Toby was one of the mascots in the football game between Bingham All-stars and a Nottingham Forest Legends team.
Around £800 was raised for the appeal at the event.
Former Nottingham Forest player Gary Mills will run the Robin Hood Half- marathon on September 13 for the cause.
A coffee morning is being hosted today by Mrs Katrina Blunden, a friend of Mrs Clough, at Vicars Croft, Conery Lane, Whatton.
It will run from 9.30am-noon and visitors can also buy second hand books and handmade bags.
Toby has already had intensive chemotherapy and an operation to try to remove the tumour in the orbit of his eye.
The operation was a success but doctors fear that minute cancerous particles, too small to be picked up by a scan, remain.
His parents have been told his best option would be the proton therapy, which would take up to to ten weeks.
Cheques made payable to Hope For Toby can also be given to Mr and Mrs Clough or left at Bingham Day Nursery, which Toby attends.
