Horsham schoolgirl in '˜Carpool Karaoke' with JLS star

A Horsham schoolgirl who was diagnosed with leukaemia at just four years old has realised her '˜Carpool Karaoke' dream by singing with JLS star Aston Merrygold.
Ellie Mae Wile Dunne with former JLS singer Aston Merrygold SUS-180925-162822001Ellie Mae Wile Dunne with former JLS singer Aston Merrygold SUS-180925-162822001
Ellie Mae Wile Dunne with former JLS singer Aston Merrygold SUS-180925-162822001

The former JLS singer met Ellie Mae Wile Dunne, 10, for a singalong to mark Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

During the event, organised by young people’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent, they belted out Aston’s hit ‘Get Stupid’ and talked about what it is like making long journeys to get to cancer treatment.

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Ellie Mae’s mum Nikki Wile said: “Ellie Mae loved meeting up with Aston, having a singalong and talking about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

“When Ellie was having treatment, we had to make the two hour round trip by car to hospital sometimes daily. It cost us a lot of money in parking and petrol, but we had no choice but to pay.

“Some families have even longer journeys and it isn’t fair.”

CLIC Sargent says that children with cancer have to travel twice as far and spend twice as much as adults on getting to hospital. On average, families of children and young people with cancer face a round trip of 60 miles to get to hospital for treatment, adding up to at least £180 a month in petrol costs.

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Now CLIC Sargent is urging the Government to set up a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund to help thousands of families afford to get to hospital and back for vital cancer treatment.

Aston said: “When I heard about CLIC Sargent’s campaign I really wanted to show my support in some way. It’s not right that families are facing huge additional costs just to get their child to hospital for cancer treatment.”

During the trip to London to meet Aston, Ellie Mae also met Harry Judd and Louis Smith, Aston’s co-stars in 60s-theme dance show Rip It Up which is currently touring the UK.

CLIC Sargent is asking the public to sign its petition calling on the Government to set up a Young Cancer Patient Travel Fund. For more information visit clicsargent.org.uk

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