Coventry Rugby will be raising funds to treat 20-month-old leukaemia patient Hallie Reeve from the city in an on-going campaign to raise £1,000,000 for her treatment.
Located at Butts Park Arena, the team will travel 350,000 miles collectively on exercise bikes, rowing machines and on foot in support of the ‘Rally for Hallie’ campaign on Friday, August 4.
The young girl has Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukaemia (JMML), a rare chronic blood cancer, and her family are desperately trying to raise £1m so that she can have treatment that is not available on the NHS.
Read more: Appeal to help Coventry baby with cancer raises £400k in days as city rallies
Nearly £700,000 has already been donated, but her parents Jamie Reeve and Kim Dugdale face a race against time to raise the remaining funds so she can join a CAR T-cell therapy trial that could save her life.
Head Coach at Coventry Rugby, Alex Rae, knows Hallie’s uncle Adam and once his players were made aware of Hallie’s plight, they quickly volunteered to assist in raising funds.
“At the point that I spoke to the squad around £350,000 was still required, so we thought a good way of raising awareness and hopefully also some cash is to match this in metres. We really hope that plenty of people will come along during the day and support the lads who will be rowing and cycling in shifts and running around the city centre in small groups.
“We will have a bucket collection going on and also be doing everything we can to make people aware of Hallie’s Helping Hands and the Go Fund Me page where they can donate,” he said.
Alex said the family’s endurance has given inspiration for the local rugby squad as they work through pre-season training ahead of their open-day club clash on September 9 with Premiership champions Saracens.
“It’s too easy for us all to go about our day-to-day lives and be oblivious to everything else. The family’s positivity at this incredibly tough time has really struck a chord with me as has the togetherness which has come from everyone in support of Hallie. We see ourselves as part of this Coventry community and are keen to get involved and help.
“The family’s approach also sends a strong message. We are all far too quick to complain about things that are unimportant whereas this definitely is and that’s why we will be missing the last day of our rugby pre-season to be in Broadgate on Friday.”
Writing on the GoFundMe page, Hallie’s auntie Hannah, wrote: “In the summer of 2022 while on her first family holiday in Spain, Hallie was diagnosed with JMML, a rare type of leukaemia, at just 8 months old.
“Hallie was subsequently flown home and began treatment in Birmingham Children’s Hospital (BCH) where she has bravely taken on endless chemo, 2 gruelling stem cell transplants and countless blood transfusions and still always has a smile on her face.”
“Sadly, the latest transplant has not worked and after global discussions, the team at BCH have said the only way left to save Hallie’s life involves a CAR T-cell therapy trial which will hopefully be starting in Great Ormond Street Hospital very soon, and if not then in America. This is going to cost in excess of £1 million.”
“Hallie is the sweetest little girl, she’s is so gentle and kind natured (a carbon copy of her mummy) and deserves to be given every chance at a long and happy life. As a family, from the bottom of our hearts we ask you to help save our Hallie. Even the smallest of donations will go towards saving her life.”
There have been over 37,000 donations and floods of comments of support on the page, rooting for Hallie to get the treatment she needs.
Amelia Foster, who donated £100, said: “On behalf of My Nan who has been knitting baby cardigans and baby blankets to help raise money to get Hallie the treatment she needs! Sending lots of love and luck.”
Helen Slater, who raised £513, said: “The amazing parents of The Early Learning Camp nursery helped us to raise this amount by making cakes for a cake sale. We are really happy to be able to support this fundraiser.”
Alison Tann, who donated £40, said: “My heart goes out to you all. I truly hope others feel as I did on reading of Hallie’s bravery and they also feel compelled to help. Stay strong all of you and I sincerely hope you manage to get the treatment and have a successful outcome.”
To donate funds for the ‘Rally for Hallie’ campaign, visit the website.
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