Friends rally to help cancer-struck Bridgnorth family

And that's what they're doing, organising a reunion for former pupils of the Bridgnorth Endowed School.

Next month's event, at Bridgnorth Rugby Club, will help Tom Attwater, who is trying to raise £500,000 to send his four-year-old daughter Kelli to Germany or America for treatment.

Mr Attwater, 30, who has a brain tumour, believes the treatment is vital for Kelli, who is suffering from a rare form of cancer.

She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at the age of just three months.

Although she is now in remission her father fears that she could suffer another relapse and he wants her to undergo pioneering treatment, which the NHS has refused to pay for.

Her plight came the the attention of Richard Wall, who was at Bridgnorth Endowed with Mr Attwater.

He said: "I was good mates with Tom at school but sometimes you go your separate ways.

"I then heard about Tom's illness all these years later and what he was selflessly trying to do for little Kelli.

"I decided I wanted to organise the fundraising event to give them some help."

And so the reunion will take place on November 22 and raise money for The Kelli Smith Appeal.

It will take place at 8pm and will include live music and a disco.

Mr Attwater said: "I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped to organise this amazing event, particularly Richard, who has worked tirelessly to ensure the event is a massive success. Thanks for helping our little girl."

Mr Attwater said Kelli is his inspiration in fighting his own illness and he is determined to raise the money needed to treat her.

"The NHS provides treatment when a child is diagnosed but if a child then suffers a relapse it will not fund this specific treatment," he said.

"The NHS believes the mortality rate is too high but huge progress is being made in America and Germany. It costs £500,000 to get over there for the treatment."

She underwent seven months of chemotherapy and numerous operations before the family was given the news she was in remission.

But last year, they were dealt the devastating blow she had suffered a relapse and had to have more surgery to remove three tumours.

While Kelli is currently in remission, doctors say she has a high chance of being struck with cancer again.

"We need to raise this money for Kelli and until my dying day I will do my best to ensure that happens," said Mr Attwater, who is engaged to Kelli's mother, Joely Smith, and plans to marry in April.

"With neuroblastoma, if a child relapses the chance of a further relapse is very high.

"She has already suffered and undergone a lot of procedures and operations.

"She's an extremely brave little girl. But we have to prepare for the probability it will return in the future."

Mr Attwater, who lives in Sutton Coldfield but is originally from Pattingham, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in September last year after he suffered a blackout.

Doctors found a mass covering a third of his brain and following an MRI and it was found that it was cancerous.

He spent a couple of weeks in hospital and had extensive brain surgery, in which they removed 70 per cent of the tumour.

"The average life expectancy after surgery is three years and I had the operation a year ago," said Mr Attwater.

"I've focussed my attentions on making sure Kelli gets the treatment she needs. She's my inspiration. Kelli and Joely give me a reason to live. Kelli has got such a lovely personality and such a beautiful smile. She's got a really good heart, she's very empathetic and she's very, very brave.

"She helps me because I'm a 30-year-old man and I think 'she handled it, I have to'.

"One thing Kelli always says to me is 'Daddy you can beat cancer, I've had it twice and kicked its butt twice'".

If the cash is not used for Kelli, the family has said it will go to another child -

• For further information or to donate prizes contact Mr Wall on 07814 560314.

• To find out more, or to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/helpkelli