£1.2m! Fund for Charlie hits target in nick of time
BABy Charlie Gard’s parents were overwhelmed yesterday as they hit their £1.2million fundraising target with 24 hours to spare.
The goal was reached on the eve of a court hearing today to decide the fate of their sick seven-month-old son.
Over the weekend alone, well-wishers including Tamara Ecclestone gave more than £500,000 to save Charlie who has a rare genetic condition.
Doctors say it would be kinder to allow the boy to die because his type of mitochondrial disease – which saps energy from the organs – has no accepted cure.
But Connie yates and Chris Gard have begged the High Court to give their son a chance. They have found a doctor in the united States willing to try an experimental therapy, but needed to raise £1.2million to fund it. On March 3 a judge gave the couple from Bedfont, south-west London, a month to make their case. And today they will be able to tell the court about their renewed hope thanks to the massive generosity of the public. websiteTheir appealhas raisedon the £1.23millionGo Fund Me in only two months. More than half the amount was raised since Friday. In a frenzy of activity on social media over the weekend, family and friends shared the message ‘48 hours to save Charlie’. EcclestoneOn Saturday, donatedTv presenter£ 10,000. Miss Another £27,000 came from Indonesia. The largest donation, £40,000, has come from Tunbridge Wells housewife Helen Barnes, a 45-year-old mother of two, and her husband Steve. Last night Connie, 31, a carer, said: ‘Chris and I are overwhelmed by the support from the public. Words cannot express how grateful we are to everyone who has donated. It seemed an impossible amount to raise so we are stunned, shocked and thrilled that we have actually managed to achieve it.’
Charlie is being kept alive in intensive care at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. But doctors there believe they have exhausted all treatment options. To donate, go to www.gofundme. com/please-help-to-save-charlies-life.