Mirfield schoolgirl Bailey gets the go-ahead for brain tumour treatment

Bailey Coppack will soon be going to Oklahoma for ground-breaking treatment that she hopes will finally rid her of her brain tumour.

The Department of Health has agreed to pay for the treatment and her family have raised thousands of pounds to fund the trip.

The 12-year-old Castle Hall Academy pupil said: “It’s touching how many people have supported us. I didn’t think people were actually going to send us money and letters.”

So far the family has raised more than half of its £20,000 fundraising target, with more to come once money raised by Huddersfield Town FC is totted up.

Cheques have been dropped through the family’s letterbox in Overhall Road, Mirfield, money has been raised by local groups and messages of support have come from people in the UK and abroad.

On Saturday, Bailey’s family raised more than £1,500 with a raffle and disco held at Lower Hopton Working Men’s Club in Mirfield.

Bailey’s mum, Lisa, said: “A lot of people who donate have children in similar situations or have actually lost children.

“They know exactly what we are going through and their support has been amazing.”

Next week Bailey and her family will find out exactly when they will be going to Oklahoma, which could be in as little as four weeks.

Bailey will have treatment for between nine and 12 weeks, but she will not know exactly how long it will take until she gets there.

Lisa said: “It’s like a military operation to get it all sorted.”

For the first half of her treatment, Bailey will be joined by her mum, stepdad Graham Ellis and half-brother, Jamie.

Her dad, Damien, and sister, Ellie, will go out for the second half.

Although Bailey will have to miss several weeks of school, she will keep in touch with her classmates and look in on lessons using videocall software Skype.

Before that, there are many more fundraising events in the pipeline.

On April 22, staff and customers at The Alma pub in Thornhill will be doing a sponsored walk for Bailey.

On May 12 there will be a charity football match and race night at the Pear Tree Inn in Mirfield, and staff from Castle Hall are doing a sponsored skydive.