Buy As You View Helps to Raise Charity Cash

A BRAVE 12-year-old called on Prime Minister Gordon Brown, presenter Noel Edmonds and the Dragons' Den to help raise cash in memory of her dad after his death from cancer.

Courtney Nathaniel, from Gelli, has raised £2,500 so far for Macmillan through sponsorship and donations from friends and family.

A walk from Ton Pentre to Tonypandy is just one of many ways Courtney has raised money for the cancer charity to help others like her father Martin.

"I wanted to do it when my father was ill," said Courtney. "I told him about it and he said he would meet me at the end. This was only three weeks before he passed away.

"I e-mailed about 100 people hoping to raise money and Buy As You View turned up at my door with a TV.

"But I didn't do it for the TV, I did for my father and for McMillian Nurses.

"I think in a way my dad was with me on the walk as I had him on my t-shirt.

"It seemed really, really weird when Noel Edmonds rang on the day he passed away, it was as if it was meant to be. He thought Noel Edmonds was really cool."

Martin was first diagnosed two years ago and was given the all-clear last summer. Sadly, in February, the cancer returned and he passed away on March 10.

Courtney's mam Diane said: "Organising the walk and sponsorship has given Courtney something really positive to focus on.

"She was very close to her dad - he only lived a few doors down from us - and so this has really helped her through it.

"When we had the news that Martin had become ill again, Courtney started getting her friends and family together to organise a walk through the local area to raise money for the Macmillan nurses who did a fantastic job in caring for him.

"We all decided to wear bright green outfits for Macmillan so that no-one would be able to miss us.

"I found her on the computer late one night and she was e-mailing local companies and MPs to ask if they'd sponsor her. She also wrote some letters to ask for sponsorship, including one to Gordon Brown!

"Martin always wanted to be a contestant on Deal Or No Deal and Courtney had also written to Noel to ask if he could sponsor her.

"The strangest thing was that on the day Martin died, we had a phone call and it was Noel himself.

"He'd rung to see how Martin was doing and to speak to Courtney to say he would send her a cheque.

"Courtney has also received donations from Juliet Henderson, PPC for Rhondda, and Chris Bryant, the Labour MP for Rhondda. Last weekend we had a call from Theo Paphitis' company who have donated £100 and Harrods have donated £50 as well.

"Courtney and I want to say thank you to everyone who has donated and supported the charity."

The charity walk saw 20 people starting at Ton Pentre Football Club and collecting money from local pubs along the way. Courtney has also organised a sponsored bag-pack at ASDA in Tonypandy with her friends and raised almost £1,000.

Debbie Jones, fundraising manager at Macmillan in Bridgend, said: "I know that Courtney's family are immensely proud of what she is doing and are supporting her every step of the way "We wish Courtney and her family good luck and all the best with their fundraising and thank them immensely for supporting Macmillan."

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