A fundraising event has been held in Abbots Langley to raise money for Brooke Cornwell
Residents across Abbots Langley turned out in force yesterday evening in order to raise money for a five-year-old suffering from a rare blood disease.
Villagers were busy buying jewellery, scented candles and bubble bath from stalls inside the Swan Pub in College Road, while sizzling sausages were sold on an outside barbecue – all in order to raise money for Brooke Cornwell.
Brooke, of Breakspeare Close, Watford, suffers from Diamond Blackfan Anaemia, a disorder which means her bone marrow cannot produce enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around her body.
As a result she needs to have blood transfusions every three weeks and iron chelation therapy – to rid her body of excess iron caused by the transfusions.
Charitable duo Mandie Collingbourne, 31, and Kerri Chapman, 27, organised the event in order to send Brooke to Camp Sunshine in Maine, America, so that she can meet and interact with similar children, as well as see a specialist.
Mrs Chapman, of Jersey Farm, St Albans, said: “As a mother-of-two, when I heard about what Brooke has been through, I felt moved to help.
“She’s such a remarkable little girl, so, so brave. Mandie and I really wanted to help so we decided to hold this fundraiser in Abbots Langley so that she could go to Camp Sunshine.
“If we raise anything extra that will go towards paying for whatever else Brooke needs.
“The community has really come together to show their support, it’s very touching how people pull together when needed.
“We hope that we can make a difference to little Brooke’s life.”
A number of local businesses as well as store Costco donated items including toasters, kettles and Waterford crystal sets all of which were raffled off.
Brooke’s mother, Amber Cornwell, 29, said: “I can’t believe what Mandi and Kerri have done for us – it’s just amazing, the pair of them, they are amazing.
“We applied to the camp in Maine a couple of months ago and we’ve just found out Brooke has been offered a place – all we need to do now is raise a couple of thousand so that me, my husband and Brooke can fly over to America.
“Lots of people have turned out to support us – we couldn’t be more grateful.”
Villagers helped raise £2,004 for Brooke.
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