AN ANDOVER woman has launched a fundraiser in aid of a young girl who has recently been diagnosed with cancer.

When Charlotte Bungay, 33, saw that a fellow Andover mum had posted online about her little girl’s Leukaemia diagnosis, she was determined to find a way to help.

Charlotte, who works as a baker, lost a child in 2007, and another of her four little ones spent time in intensive care, so she knows how tough it is to have a young family and be making trips to and from the hospital.

Four-year-old Summer Herbert was diagnosed last month after a period of illness. She previously attended the same nursery as Charlotte’s own daughter, before moving to Vigo School.

When Charlotte saw Summer’s mum, Becky Bonello, post the news to Facebook, she decided to set up a fundraising page.

Charlotte said: “When you are going through something as a family, you need the support from the people around you to keep you going. If you were in someone’s situation, you would hope that people would be there for you.

“When we lost our second child, we were lucky that we had a charity to support us. When you go through certain things, it makes you realise just how important family is.”

Charlotte launched the fundraiser in aid of Becky, Summer and their family, to raise some money for “whatever they wish”.

“Life is so short. If they’re worrying about bills or the extra expenses, then it will be there, and if not, they can make memories! I didn’t put on there exactly what it’s for because, as a family, they will know what’s right for them,” she said.

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She continued: “I have done a fair amount of fundraising before and I’m just trying to get people to come together.

“Launching it before pay day, I expected it to be not a lot, but as soon as it went up I was like, wow! The support has already been unbelievable.”

Charlotte is also asking Andover residents to dress in pink on Friday, May 6, in honour of Summer and to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

Summer’s mum, Becky, says it’s been a “heartbreaking” few weeks.

“It’s just mad to think that three weeks ago she was running around and just being her,” she said. “But she’s bossing it.”

Reacting to the fundraiser, Becky posted to Facebook: “I just want to say thank you so much to Charlotte. It means so much to us as a family. Hopefully once Summer is better it will be going to us all going to Disneyland.

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“I also want to say thank you to all who have donated. You all mean so much to us as a family. I know this money isn’t going to make Summer better, but it will be going to her to show her how brave she has been. Every medication, every needle that’s she had and the progress that’s going to happen. She’s smashing it and been so brave.”

For more information or to donate, visit: gofund.me/b989b518.

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