Old Kings Arms on Kirkgate, Newark, to hold fundraiser to send little girl with cancer to Disney World

A fundraiser will be held next weekend to help send a little girl with an aggressive form of cancer to Disney World.

Leila Rose Hallam (pictured) was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma at the age of six last year.

Fewer than 60 children in the UK each year are diagnosed with this type of cancer, which forms in the soft tissue.

Leila’s family set a fundraising target of £20,000 to send her on a special trip to Disney World in Florida once her condition improves.

A fundraiser is planned the Old Kings Arms on Kirkgate, Newark, for the evening of Friday, February 25, and will include a raffle and karaoke.

Since being diagnosed, Leila, of Cotgrave, has faced strong chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and operations.

“It would be fantastic if people would go along,” said John Campbell, Leila’s grandfather, a regular at the Old Kings Arms.

“All we want is for when she gets better to take her to Disney World in Florida.

“The rest of the money will go towards researching her type of cancer.”

The £20,000 target has already been reached on the JustGiving page.

Fundraising will continue to donate towards a rhabdomyosarcoma clinical trial to raise awareness and progression of this type of cancer.

John said that the pub had already raised £1,000 for Leila and praised the support that staff have given his family.

“The Kings Arms in Newark do so much for her and all the customers there are fantastic,” he said.

David Smith, landlord at the Old Kings Arms, said: “We try to pride ourselves on being a community pub and we like to support the regulars and our customers.”

Leila’s family also organised another fundraiser at the Cotgrave Miners Welfare Social Club yesterday (Saturday).

To donate to Leila's fundraiser, click here.