Cancer stricken Lola-Mai prompts charity appeals

The plight of little Lola-Mai Burns, from Havant, has already touched hundreds of hearts since it was publicised on social media last week.

And now charity events are being planned to help the Hampshire hospital units that are helping her.

Speaking on behalf of Lola-Mai’s parents, Kaine Burns, 23, and Jemma Williams, 25, grandad Mark Harrison said the family had been delighted with the reaction they had got so far.

Mr Harrison, 48, said: ‘It has been overwhelming.

‘Kaine and Jemma are just amazed at what’s going on and they say it has given them a lot of strength to help them to deal with everything.

‘It shows community does exist and people do care.’

Mr Harrison said Lola-Mai’s parents took her to a doctor just before Christmas after they discovered a lump on the side of her stomach.

She was then referred to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham where tests revealed she had a tumour on one of her kidneys and a mass on the other.

Mr Harrison said: ‘They said it looked like a Wilms’ tumour, a kind of cancer that’s prevalent in young children.’

Lola Mai was transferred to Southampton General Hospital for an operation last week.

She is due to start chemotherapy today.

Mr Harrison said: ‘They are looking at possibly having to remove one of her kidneys and they are hoping that the other one will be strong enough to support her body.’

Lola-Mai will turn two on March 3, and her family are hoping it will be a happy one.

Since her family set up the page ‘Lola Mai Charity fund raising page’ on Facebook, kind-hearted people have made plans to fundraise for paediatric units at QA and Southampton General.

Adam Jones, 22, from Titchfield, hopes to raise thousands of pounds through a motorcycle ‘ride-out’ from Loomies Moto Cafe in West Meon to Southampton General.

He said all bikers were welcome to join in with the event, which would take place on March 12 from 10am.

Mr Jones said: ‘She’s not even two and she’s got kidney cancer, I can’t imagine what that must be like for the family.’

Another man, Anthony Evans, is planning a fundraiser featuring modified cars and trucks on April 3.

Though the venue is yet to be confirmed, Anthony said the family-friendly event would include scores of muscle cars and other vehicles from across the county.

He said more details would be on the Facebook page ‘Fight for Lola-Mai’.

Other charity events being planned include a boxing match on March 4 at the Pyramids Centre in Southsea and a spiritual evening at Soul’s Journey in Havant on March 5.