What can I say about Ava. Imagine a happy, pretty, really funny 10 year-old girl, with a smile for everyone. Sounds like a cliche? Truth is, that is exactly who Ava is. The happiest, funniest, smiliest little girl around. The only difference between Ava and the other little girls is that Ava has leukaemia.

For the second time.

Her first diagnosis was December 2011. She endured 2 years of intensive chemotherapy. That’s a huge length of time when you’re 6. A third of your life. But the incredible thing about Ava is that even with leukaemia, even with her hair falling out and steroids swelling her face into a ball, she was still the happiest, funniest, smiliest little girl around. After 2 years, she was given an 85% chance the disease would never return. Ava, however, is one of the 15%. Now she’s back to square one.

Two futures: either another 2 fun-filled years of chemo; or the invasive unpleasantness of a bone marrow transplant. Not much to look forward to. Yet still Ava remains the happiest, funniest, smiliest little girl around. Ava is a trooper. End of.

But, this page isn’t really about Ava. It’s about her dad, Steve. Who supported Ava (and her brother Harvey) through every stage of her treatment and recovery. I could say a lot of things about Steve being a good guy and a proper human being. But I only really need tell you one thing. If you’re going through the horrors of leukaemia, Steve is exactly the guy you want as your dad. Steve the rock. And that’s what Ava’s got. Which makes her not only the happiest, funniest, smiliest little girl in the world. But also the luckiest.

Now the bottom line. The demands of Ava’s disease mean Steve’s had to quit his job as a chef in a pub kitchen to become Ava’s full-time carer. The only option he has. Being able to emotionally support his family means he’s unable to financially support them. Everyone needs some help at some point in their life. Steve and Ava are at that point.

And that’s where we come in.