Leeds granddad's fourth cancer diagnosis leads eight-year-old girl to take on second charity fundraiser this year

Mollie Horner, aged eight, will walk 20 miles in the shape of an 'M' this Saturday January 16 to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Her grandad received his fourth cancer diagnosis before Christmas after being in remission for four months.

After his third diagnosis at the beginning of the pandemic, Mollie raised over £500 for Macmillan and Cancer Research UK by making face coverings during lockdown after her desire to ‘pay for granddad’s medicine to make him better’ wasn’t possible.

Mollie's mum, Kerry Horner, said: "When we told Mollie about my dad's diagnosis she was really upset again like she was last time and then said 'I need to do something again mummy'.

"We contacted Macmillan to help us with some ideas and came up with 'Mollie's Macmillan M shaped walk'.

"My dad is going into hospital on January 20 for surgery and possibly chemotherapy so Mollie wanted to make sure she did her walk before he goes in.

"He is very proud of her."

Mollie's dad Kev spent a whole day mapping her 'M' shaped route to ensure it stays inline with Covid lockdown restrictions of only exercising locally.

She will begin in Woodlesford which is five minutes away from the Horner's Micklefield home.

Kerry added: "Mollie wants to walk alone but we will follow her and drive alongside her too.

"Her six-year-old brother Ellis will also walk with her for part of it."

Mollie's grandad took unwell just before Christmas and doctors gave him injections to treat some blood clots.

He was checked regularly and new tumours were then found on his lung.

Mollie has so far raised £105 of her £200 target and donations can be made here.

Mollie’s mum Kerry nominated her daughter for the Yorkshire Evening Post's Big Thank You Awards in October, which aimed to shine a light on the heroes who had made a difference to Leeds in a tough 2020.

Mollie was one of those people who had made a difference by using a sewing machine and fabrics to post her face coverings as far as Sussex across the country during the first lockdown.

Mollie struggled on Facetime as she watched her granddad go from being fine at home, to being in hospital and intensive care in such a short space of time during the pandemic.

And after having open lung surgery and some of the main artery to his heart removed, he was on the road to recovery for the third time before his recent diagnosis.

The masks were made of different fabrics including ones with a Disney theme, and she posted them in a gift bag with a personalised hand-written thank you note after asking for a minimum donation of £1.

She began this first fundraiser by posting on a Leeds-based Facebook page but her idea was soon passed to schools for fundraising and she even had an order placed from Asda for her masks.