Brothers team up for young girl fighting cancer

Shaun and Richard Croft on their coast to coast challenge.

The former Myton School pupils took part in the Coast to Coast Adventure which included kayaking, swimming, orienteering and cycling.

Shaun said: “We travelled approximately 270km from the west coast of northern England to the east coast.

“The challenge meant running up and over hills, cycling both on and off road, swimming and orienteering.”

The brothers put themselves through four days of agony last week with thoughts of a brave girl keeping them going. Maddie Hems, who lives in Dickens Heath, is fighting Ewings Sarcoma.

She was diagnosed in April 2012, aged just eight.

Maddie has undergone intense chemotherapy at Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she stayed for most of 2012.

In October 2012, she had a six week course of Proton Therapy in Oklahoma, USA.

She suffered severe burns to her neck and throat from the Proton Therapy and contracted Clostridium Difficile as well.

Shaun said: “Maddie has been fighting for her life.

“With her strong will to survive, she was battling cancer, however the odds were tipped against her.”

He said some help was available on the NHS, but due to the specialised treatment, Maddie needed to travel to the USA.

Money is being raised through Maddie’s Fighting Fund for treatment.

Shaun added: “We are appealing for donations and If anyone would like to help, I thank you deep in my heart.”

The fund address for any donations, no matter how small is through a Paypal account at maddiesfighting [email protected]