AN ARROCHAR fund-raising event has raised more than £4,500 for the family of a five-year-old girl with cancer.

Corran Ballantyne, who lives in Mintlaw, near Fraserburgh, with parents Paul and Rona and brother Rohan, nine, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma two months ago and is consigned to hospital in Aberdeen while she undergoes chemotherapy sessions.

On Saturday, August 31, Paul’s cousin Karen Fraser, who stays in Arrochar, held a unicorn-themed party at the village’s Ben Arthur’s Bothy to raise money for the stricken youngster and get her sparkle back.

Although the devastating condition has taken its toll on Corran and the family, Karen was delighted with the response from the community to the fund-raising appeal and it offered light relief for everyone at a difficult time.

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She said: “We were all stunned when Corran was diagnosed.

“It changed the whole family dynamic because Corran’s mum gave up her job and Paul was working in Dubai, so he had to come home. Corran’s mum is at the hospital the whole time with her.

“We are the closest thing to Corran on her dad’s side, so I decided because we were so far away we had to organise an event for her, because we just felt so useless here.

“I wanted it to be a big children’s party and the idea was to get Corran’s sparkle back. She likes unicorns, so everyone had to come dressed according to the theme, wearing something sparkly or related to unicorns.

“We raised £4,528 and it’s just an amazing total; people are still coming into the pub to hand in donations.”

Corran’s journey has captured the imagination of the Arrochar community, with a couple of famous local faces even contributing to the cause.

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Karen added: “It was a really good day. We asked Ford Kiernan if he could attend and he said he would try as he is filming just now, but he turned up just to say hello. Kevin Bridges also donated a signed canvas for the raffle.

“The whole village turned out and were so good. I’m still saying thanks to all the businesses and people who helped. We’ve been totally overwhelmed with the response and we can’t believe the money we’ve raised.”

A fund-raising page called Corran’s Hopes has been set up, with more than £18,500 raised so far from a target of £20,000.

Neuroblastoma has one of the lowest survival rates of all childhood cancers, but the aim now for Corran’s family in the north-east and her relatives in Arrochar is to maintain as normal a daily life as possible, beat the horrible disease and get her back to the lively little girl she used to be.

“I managed to Facetime Corran twice on the day and that really cheered her up,” Karen said.

“She has had six chemo sessions and three blood donations so far, she is doing really well.

“Any time anyone asks her how she is, she just says “fine”. She just wants to go to school.

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“The fund-raising party turned out exactly the way we had hoped.

“It was quite an emotional day and we were blown away with the amount of help and donations.

“People were so good and folk turned up who don’t even have kids or any connection with the pub.

“It was a good family fun day and that is what I wanted it to be.”

The money raised from the event is going towards Corran’s family and local and national charities which have supported them, including CLIC Sargent, CLAN and Hamish Dear’s Warm Hugs.

Karen thanked the many groups and businesses who donated, including the Loch Long Hotel, Arrochar Hotel, Claymore Hotel, Three Villages Café, The Slanj, Tarbet Tearoom, The Village Inn, Arrochar youth group, Anchor Inn, The Rosslea Hall Hotel, Helensburgh Pet Shop, Boots Helensburgh, Waitrose Helensburgh, Tesco Helensburgh, Co-op Helensburgh and the Tower cinema.

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To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/corrans-hopes.