A CHARITY darts exhibition event is being held at Droitwich’s Pillar of Salt pub tomorrow (Friday) to raise funds to help four-year-old Chloe Balloqui, who is battling neuroblastoma, an agressive form of childhood cancer.
Chloe was diagnosed at two and spent almost seven months in hospital, having tests, chemotherapy surgery, stem cell harvesting, high dose chemotherapy, radiotherapy surgery and immunotherapy.
Once in remission, her parents then identified a drug trial in America which aimed to prevent neuroblastoma coming back after immunotherapy. A campaign aimed at raising the £100,000 needed for the experimental treatment saw the cash collected in just six weeks. But earlier this year, just as the family were due to go to Michigan, tests revealed the cancer had returned. Fortunately, as it was not found in Chloe’s bones, it is thought the relapse had been caught early. She will not be able to go to the US in the foreseeable future and the specialist team at Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Chloe is being treated, is now determining the best ways to push Chloe’s cancer back into remission.
The cash raised – currently at almost £160,000 – will be used for Chloe’s treatment, once the best way forward has been decided. At the Pillar of Salt tonight, to raise even more funds, there will be the chance for people to go along and, for a donation to the cause, take on professional darts player Dave Honey and the up and coming Nathan Richards, who are both from Droitwich.
There will also be a raffle and an auction of memorabilia with items such as darts and shirts that Dave has got from his fellow pros. Dave, who has won 100 open competitions, appeared on Sky TV, travelled around the World to play darts and taken part in the World championships thanked the professionals for their donations. And he told The Standard: “Now we just want as many people as possible to come down to the Pillar of Salt and raise as much money as possible for what is such a worthwhile cause.”
The light-hearted evening will even enable those playing Dave and Nathan to have their own walk-on music as they approach the oche. “It really will be just like TV darts,” added Dave. Visit www.justgiving.com/chloeballoquiappeal/ for more on the Chloe Balloqui appeal.