Charitable Annesley girl bids to raise funds for Skegby teen's cancer battle

Dancer Ruth Lamb, 14, set out to raise £500 for John Eastwood Hospice in 2018 after the death of her close friend and dressmaker Karen Newbold, who supported her during her Junior Showtime wins.

Ruth, who raises money through charity cake sales and by choreographing dance performances, wants to reach a new target of £5,000 for the hospice – ten times her initial goal.

But now the Ashfield School pupil is turning her attention to supporting 17-year-old Jacob Fradgley, who is fighting his second battle with Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

Jacob has battled the cancer since mid-2018 and thought it was beaten; then was told last November it has relapsed.

His family set up a crowdfunding page to raise £5,000 to “make amazing memories”, after being told by doctors that if he wants to do anything special, to “get it done now”.

This led to the aspiring soldier meeting his idol Ant Middleton, from SAS: Who Dares Wins, as well as thousands being raised for the family.

And Ruth now wants to do her bit for Jacob and his family.

Julie Lamb, Ruth’s 47-year-old mother, says Ruth read about Jacob’s story and wanted to do what she could to help them.

She said: “Ruth has never met Jacob, but when she read about him she wanted to help him out straight away.

“She’s been fundraising recently but said it can all be put on the backburner, because this is more urgent and important.

“We’ve organised a cake sale event and she’s already choreographed a few dances to perform. I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

Sammy Fradgley, Jacob’s mum, said: “We really appreciate all the support from those that fundraise for Jacob. It means he can do the things he wants without limits.”

Ruth is hosting a coffee and cake sale from 11am-3pm on Sunday, February 9 at Kirkby’s Acacia Centre, and they are looking for donations to help raise funds.

If you can help, contact Julie on Facebook.