BIG BOOST TOWARDS NICOLE'S £4,000 TARGET

The Shires shopping centre in Trowbridge and all its customers have been thanked by the family of five-year-old cerebral palsy sufferer Nicole Chorley for a £830.68 collection which will help send the youngster to America for a life-changing operation.

Nicole, who lives in Westwood, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia when she was seven months old and although able to walk with a frame while at school at present she faces being confined to a wheelchair in a few years.

Mum Tracy and the rest of the family have been frantically fundraising to raise £40,000 needed for an operation in the States which will enable Nicole to lead a normal life – and they are now close to hitting their target.

The collection in The Shires has taken the total so far to £34,000.

The next big fundraising event is an auction at Christchurch School, Bradford on Avon on Friday night (May 27) at 7.30pm and Bradford Lions have promised to donate £2,300 from their fun day which will take them even closer.

Nicole’s operation is planned for July.

The Shires collection for Nicole’s Goal formed part of a day of activities in the shopping centre which includes face painting, balloon modelling and an appearance of the Brian the Lion character.

Mrs Chorley, who was among the collectors with other members of the family, thanked everyone for their donations.

The Shires centre manager John Grinnell thanked all the shops and their staff and his own centre staff for helping make the day such a success. He said everyone should be congratulated for their efforts.