Firefighters step up to raise cash for Lily-Mai (From Thurrock Gazette)

Firefighters step up to raise cash for Lily-Mai

5:12pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News

FIREFIGHTERS have raised more than £1,000 for a baby battling a rare medical condition.

Lily-Mai Murray, 20 months, was born with the vein of galen malformation, which affects the blood vessels in her brain and puts a dangerous amount of strain on her heart and other organs.

The condition has left the tot blind and suffering a string of medical conditions including severe brain damage, cerebral palsy, water on the brain, sleep apnoea and epilepsy.

Her parents need to raise £50,000 for an operation to save her life in New York.

When firefighters at Orsett heard about Lily-Mae’s plight they were inspired to do something to help, and set up shop outside Asda in Tilbury to raise as much cash as they could with a climbing challenge.

The Red Watch crew used a special machine to scale a height equivalent to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Eiffel Tower, or the Taj Mahal.

Firefighter Phil Nevard, who organised the event, said: “Shoppers were fantastically generous with us and we were able to raise more than £1,000 for Lily-Mae in just six hours.

“It was great to see everyone get behind us in raising money for such a worthy cause and I would like to thank all the shoppers who cheered us on and donated on the day.

“We are now planning to hold more charity events in the future to raise money for Lily-Mai.”

If you would like to help Lily-Mai, you can donate online by logging on to www.gofundme.com/g0k4g.