12:04pm Tuesday 5th February 2008
By Gordon McCully
A young cancer survivor took an extra special leap into Chorley today in the battle to help fight the killer disease.
Toddler, Aaliyah Barton (right), aged two-and-a-half, from Euxton, who lost her left eye to cancer, put the final touches to a giant pile of oversized coins spelling out Feb 29 at the Chorley Cancer Research shop, Chapel Street.
The special event was staged this morning to illustrate how every contribution can add up to life-saving treatment for someone like her - demonstrating how people across the town can take advantage of the Leap Year and help beat cancer.
Cancer Research UK has seized the opportunity provided by the extra day' on February 29 with the launch of a unique one-off campaign called Make Today Count.
In May 2007, Aaliyah, was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer which affects children.
Her mum, Michele Barton, first realised something was wrong when she noticed an unusual mark on Aaliyah's left pupil.
She took her daughter for a check-up with her GP and was then referred to a specialist at Chorley Hospital.
Aaliyah was transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital where further examination revealed the toddler had a tumour behind her left eye.
Due to the size of the tumour, and because the eye was no longer working properly, Aaliyah was referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital where she underwent surgery to have her left eye removed.
She then faced three months of chemotherapy treatment.
In July Aaliyah had an artificial eye fitted in her left socket.
Although she has had to become accustomed to having an artificial eye, Aaliyah has made a good recovery and is adapting well.
Aaliyah, who has received a Cancer Research UK Little Star award for her bravery, is due to start playschool later this year, and now has three-monthly check ups at Birmingham Children's Hospital.
Michele said: "It has been a very tough time for the whole family, but we're all so proud of Aaliyah and her amazing attitude.
"Although she is only little, she is having to adapt to living with an artificial eye and is coping remarkably well with everything.
"Aaliyah has been incredibly lucky. Advances in treatment mean she's still here today and thankfully, more and more people like her are now surviving cancer every day.
"We want to encourage as many people as possible to do what they can to help raise money to fight this dreadful disease."
Folk are being encouraged to take part in a variety of ways, including simply popping into one of Chorley's two Cancer Research UK shops to buy a special Make Today Count pin badge for a suggested donation of £1.
Pamela Hough, manager of the shop, said: "Aaliyah is helping us demonstrate how by supporting their local Cancer Research UK shop on February 29, people can make a real difference in the fight against cancer.
"With more than a quarter of a million people being diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK, it has never been more important for the people of Chorley to join together to beat the disease."
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