ASHTON’S FUNDRAISING TALLY KEEPS MOTORING
Businesses rally round for goalkeeper battling bone cancer
BUSINESSES are joining forces to raise money for a young Stoke City fan who has lost his leg to bone cancer.
Ashton Hulme, aged 12, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma late last year and recently had his right leg amputated in a bid to beat the disease.
Now companies such as Stoke car leasing firm Central Contracts are raising money to support the youngster and his family.
Bosses were moved to take action after hearing of Ashton’s plight from his mum Vicky, who supplies them with cleaning services.
The firm, which owns the Leasecar. uk and Leasevan.co.uk brands, is donating £10 for every vehicle sold in April to raise money for Ashton.
The money will be donated to Ashton’s Just Giving page, which has so far raised almost £90,000 of the £300,000 target. At the end of 2020, Ashton was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer in his fibula bone in his calf which affects just 50 children in the UK every year.
Since then, the brave youngster, from Newcastle, has undergone two cycles of aggressive chemotherapy and had part of one leg amputated to control and fight the cancer.
The money raised will go towards Ashton’s ongoing treatment as well as state-of-the-art prosthetics that will give him the most natural range of movements and allow him to play his favourite sports again.
Before his diagnosis, Ashton was training as a professional goalkeeper with Crewe Alexandra Academy. He’s also a keen cricketer.
Recently Sheffield United’s Aaron Ramsdale, West Bromwich Albion’s Josh Griffiths, and Stoke City’s Joe
Bursik all wore England shirts with ‘Hulme’ on before a Euro qualifier.
Mike Lloyd from Central Contracts said: “Ashton’s mum Vicky supplies our company with cleaning services, and when we heard about her son’s situation we knew we’d do what we could to help raise the money.
“Ashton’s bravery is remarkable.
We’re very proud to be supporting him on his journey.”
■ Follow Ashton’s progress on Instagram: https://www.instagram. com/back_between_the_sticks/
■ Ashton Hulme’s Just Giving page is at: https://www.justgiving.com/ crowdfunding/amazing-ashtonhulme