Community rallies round to help poorly Plymouth girl

People in Plymouth have been rallying round to support a little girl who has been paralysed by a spinal tumour. An auction to help little Clara Gilley, who has been in hospital for more than six months, raised £4,200 - and more events are planned as the community rallies round.

Three-year-old Clara has been in Bristol Royal Hospital for Children since March where she received life saving surgery after falling seriously ill at her home in Plympton. She has been given radiotherapy and has been on a ventilator, with her parents Alana and Matt Gilley at her bedside.

Matt is self-employed and unable to work while his daughter is so poorly and the couple will need to move to a specially adapted house when Clar is finally well enough to leave hospital. They have started a Crowdfunder appeal to raise much-needed cash for Clara’s new home and the equipment she will need as the tumour damaged her spine meaning it is unlikely she will be able to walk or use her arms again and now faces being confined to a wheelchair.

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The Crowdfunder appeal has now raised £33,892 from 822 people and Alana and Matt are delighted with the way the community has pitched in to help. Alana said: “Thank you so much all for your support.”

And the fundraising is far from over, with the community in Plympton St Maurice at the centre of it. On Sunday, December 1, the area’s “living advent calendar” begins, with a new window in a different property being lit every night until Christmas. The London Inn, in Church Road, is first and will use the 6pm event to raise cash to help Clara.

The pub is run by Clara’s uncle Simon Gilley who said mince pies and mulled wine will be available and added: “There will also be pots for people to make donations. This is something the village does anyway, but we will be asking for donations, if people and their families want to come along.”

There will also be a Christmas fair at the pub on the weekend of December 7 and 8 with stalls still available. There are also plans to organise a fundraising Christmas swim and a festive quiz where, again, donations can be made.

This comes after an auction organised by Simon at the pub raised £4,285 for Clara. Among dozens of lots, a Michael Jordan signed basketball sold for £300, a Plymouth Argyle shirt signed by players went for £105 and a Gucci necklace for £160.

Among business that donated items were Michel Spiers Jewellers, Plymouth Argyle, the restaurants Eighteen87 and Plates, Dartmoor Zoo, House of Fraser, Exeter Chiefs, Blue Peace Gallery, Dartmoor Brewery, Sandford Orchards, Lumber Jill Milling, Hectors House Antiques and Collectables, Fletcher’s, Elfordleigh Hotel Golf and Leisure, Yelverton Golf Club, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Shapla Balti Cuisine.

Simon thanked everyone for the donations made and the money raised and said: “People have been so generous.”

You can donate to Clara’s Crowdfunder appeal here: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/get-clara-home/comments#start

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