MUM Ali Bevans and her friends are seeking to raise £15,000 for a world-famous hospital which treated Ali’s three-year-old daughter.

Matilda was diagnosed with a rare auto immune condition last summer, and spent more than two months in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital in London.

Her parents Ali and Toby wanted to thank the hospital for its outstanding treatment and care of their daughter and raise funds for research into the condition.

Ali, her sister Caroline Divitt and friends Vicky Sumner and Louisa Pollard set themselves a target of raising £15,000 by taking part in The Tatton 10k at Tatton Park on Sunday.

They have raised £11,525 towards their goal, as well as £2,221 in Gift Aid, and are hoping to win more support to enable them to reach the target.

Ali lives in Windsor, Vicky lives in Holmes Chapel, Caroline lives in Heaton Moor and Louisa lives in Didsbury, all four having attended Knutsford High School.

Matilda was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) in August after having difficulty climbing stairs and playground slides and feeling very tired.

“The condition attacked her muscles, and after having an MRI scan she was transferred to Great Ormond Street Hospital, where she stayed from the start of September to mid-November,” said Ali.

Matilda was also diagnosed with the early stages of Interstitial Lung Disease, and underwent six courses of chemotherapy.

“She is a lot stronger now, and is back at nursery two days a week,” said Ali.

“She goes to Great Ormond Street every three months, is on daily steroids and a weekly chemotherapy injection.

“We wanted a positive focus for ourselves as a family, and the care we have received at Great Ormond Street has been incredible.

“It is an amazing place, and the nurses are so caring. Right now there is no cure for JDM, so we’re not exactly sure what the next few years holds.

“We’re really keen to try and support Great Ormond Street in their research into the disease.

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“We launched the fundraising on Matilda’s third birthday, to start the year afresh and try to say a huge thank you to all the nurses, doctors, physios, play carers and all the other teams of people who have made us feel so at home.

“We would also like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has donated to the fundraising – the support we have had has been absolutely overwhelming.”

Anyone who would like to support Ali and her friends can do so by clicking here