An emotional grandad says an Ayrshire tot’s cancer battle brought him to tears as he vowed to raise funds to help save her life.
Jerry Helley is on course to completing a 200 mile trek for Ava Bolton, who is undergoing treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer which has a 50 per cent survival rate.
The 60-year-old from Saltcoats has put his best foot forward by walking from Kilmarnock to Castle Douglas, through the Galloway Forrest, before heading along the Ayrshire coast back home.
The construction worker has helped some of the region’s biggest projects come to fruition, having a hand in Preswick’s super-campus.
But this week he’s turned his attention to building up funds to send Ava to New York for a miracle trial drug that could save her life, with her family needing £250,000 for the treatment.
Jerry told Ayrshire Live: “I first heard about Ava’s battle after my wife had a chance meeting with her aunt.
“I had been considering doing a walk for some time and when I heard about her story I knew I had to help. I’ve got kids of my own, I’m a grandfather, as a parent I can’t imagine what her family are going through.
“Their only chance of survival in America and they desperately need £250,000 nobody has that kind of money available.
“The only way they can get it is through fundraising. Ava is just a three-year-old girl and she should be enjoying growing up and being a typical child. But this cancer has robbed her of that.
“It is so sad, it is so upsetting that it still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. I want to do whatever I can do raise the profile. I’ll walk hell or high water if I have to.”
Jerry has launched his own mission to raise £25,000 for the cause.
And he was given a heartwarming send off by Ava herself who met him and gave him a special mascot to go along the way.
Jerry said: “I met up with Ava and her family at the start point of the Q8 roundabout in Kilmarnock.
“Ava set me off and gave me one of her bunny rabbits with me. I asked her “what’s it’s name?” and she said “other one”, so I decided to name it Star. It’s the star that keeps me going, I’ve had it strapped to me the full walk.”
Jerry has praised the incredible response on the road with campers and locals along the way providing donations and support.
He added: “It’s been really good, the generosity from total strangers has been incredible.
“However, I’ve probably got more Compeed plasters than I have socks, but the pain I’m going through is nothing compared to what Ava is going through.
“My blisters will heal but she has to deal with that.”
Jerry has been supported by his wife Jilly and daughter Jamie who are both “extremely proud” of him.
15-year-old Jamie also designed a powerful logo for the walk with a bunny the slogan “Sava Life”, which was printed off into t-shirts and worn by supporters.
You can donate to Jerry's fundraiser here.
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