A team of Suffolk workers are running a treadmillathon this week to support a five-year-old girl from Ipswich through her battle with cancer.
Hayley Bendall, who will turn six in June, was told she had a high risk form of neuroblastoma just a week before she was due to start school in September 2015.
Sadly, the illness was not new to Hayley’s family, which includes mother Zoe and father Brian.
Her older sister Jessica – now seven – was diagnosed with a less aggressive form of the same cancer when she was just three months old.
Jessica is now five years in remission, but Hayley still requires ongoing treatment.
Ever since the youngster was diagnosed her parents have been collecting cash for Solving Kids’ Cancer through their online Help 4 Hayley campaign.
Now a team of employees at StrategiQ Marketing in Brightwell – the former workplace of Hayley’s auntie Cassie Bendall – are in the middle of a treadmillathon to raise even more money for the children’s cancer charity.
Running the distance between their office near Martlesham and Amsterdam, which is more than 200 miles, they are aiming to collect thousands of pounds to help children like Hayley.
Her parents said: “Hayley has handled her treatment, as well as all tests, scans, pokes and prods like an absolute star. Although Hayley is yet to be in remission, and needs further treatment, she is so incredibly brave and we are very proud of her.”
The couple have given their full support to StrategiQ’s treadmillathon campaign.
Company director Andy Smith said the team have been walking, running and even crawling in an attempt to rack up the miles.
“Obviously the main reason why we started this was because of Cassie, who used to work here.
“We were getting updates from her about her niece Hayley who is unwell and it broke my heart every time I saw posts about her on Facebook.
“We’re hoping to raise more than £3,000, and each of us has been doing half an hour on the treadmill at a time.
“It (Solving Kids’ Cancer) was the closest charity to our hearts and it’s been good fun but has raised money for such a good cause.”
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You can follow the family’s progress by visiting the Help 4 Hayley Facebook page.
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