Community rallies round appeal for cancer-stricken teen

Scott Kelley, 13, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in December 2013.

The schoolboy has since endured months of gruelling treatment, only to be told in April that he also had chronic liver disease.

Scott now faces the possibility of either a liver or bone marrow transplant, with chemotherapy remaining the top priority.

With the family left in limbo over the future of Scott’s treatment, his mum Debbie Kelley launched a charity appeal in aid of her son.

‘Scott’s Dream’ aims to generate enough funds to provide a positive experience for the young Downshire student.

Speaking to the Times last month, Debbie said: “There are so many things Scott wants to do and we don’t know at the stage if he will be able to.

“His lifetime ambition is to meet the players from Manchester United football team and to play with them.”

Happily, Scott could be one step closer to realising the dream after the family received a response from Man United officials, offering him the opportunity to meet the players at Old Trafford this autumn.

Meanwhile, Scott’s Dream has already gathered close to £1000 through online donations alone, alongside hundreds of pounds donated by the local community.

The Michelle Peacock Foundation, established in memory of a fellow Downshire student who passed away two years ago, raised £500 for the appeal, while the congregation at Carrickfergus Methodist donated £100.

In a post on the fundraising page, Debbie expressed her gratitude to those who had helped raise the total of £1475 in just four weeks. “Thank you once again to everyone who continues to share, pray and donate. It has given me tremendous hope that just maybe Scottie’s dreams can come true after all,” she said.

For more information or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/sd8sd8