Followers give a big thumbs-up to battling Emily, 11
A GIRL fighting cancer has gone viral after appealing for people to send her thumbs-up selfies on Twitter.
Emily Martin, from Salford, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in June and has been in Manchester Children’s Hospital ever since.
Alarm bells first started to ring when the 11-year-old, from Swinton, began fainting and feeling pain in her ankles.
Her parents Andy and Dawn took Emily to Salford Royal Hospital, where blood tests showed abnormalities.
It wasn’t long after they received the earth-shattering news their daughter had cancer.
Emily, a pupil at St Charles Catholic Primary School, has since been receiving chemotherapy at hospital with her father Andy by her side.
When GMP control room worker Andy sent a photo of Emily to his friends and they sent selfies back, they got an idea.
With little to entertain themselves during long days on the wards, they used the power of social media to appeal for thumbs-up selfies from famous people.
It was hoped the replies would help cheer Emily up.
So far, the tweet has racked up almost 1,500 likes - and received replies from the likes of Lord Alan Sugar and Gary Lineker.
Andy, 46, said: “People who have been through the same sort of journey as Emily have been saying keep strong and keep fighting, so it’s good for Emily and gives her a confidence boost.
“It’s nice that all these people are taking the time out, I know it’s just a thumbs up on Twitter but it’s good.”