WITHIN 24 hours, Daisy Lamond’s fundraising page for Addenbrooke’s Hospital and children’s cancer support charity Clic Sargent, had reached its £2,000 target.

The story on her Just Giving page was described from the four-year-old’s perspective and how she was diagnosed with leukaemia on her first day at Home Farm Primary School, in Lexden.

Parents Emma, 36, and Andy Heffer-Lamond, 40, took Daisy to doctors when she developed a sty on her eye as well as suffering with unexplained tiredness.

Mrs Lamond thought she was overreacting but when doctors at Colchester General Hospital joined up the dots, Daisy was fast-tracked for blood tests and her leukaemia was diagnosed.

She was referred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, the following day and has since been on an intensive six week course of steroids with chemotherapy in hospital and at home.

Daisy continues to visit medics weekly, however, recent good news means this could be about to change.

Mrs Lamond said: “We’d found out last week the leukaemia in her bone marrow has gone so the next stage is treating it over the next six months.

“At this point Daisy’s visits will hopefully become monthly rather than weekly.

“She’s been really brave throughout it all, but has been quite anxious and sad at times.

“The steroids made her the complete opposite of who she is, which was hard to see. She was very angry and grumpy all the time – it was like having a completely different child – but now she’s off them her personality has begun to come back.

“Occasionally she tells me she misses home, but Daisy has always been an articulate and bubbly child so she tries to see the best in situations.”

Maldon and Burnham Standard:

Treatment has kept Daisy off school and she has also lost a lot of her hair.

But soon “Princess Daisy” will resemble her dad, who along with two uncles and both grandfathers – who have been dubbed “brave Knights” – will shave his hair off at the family’s fundraising event.

On Sunday, at the Stanway Rovers Football Club, Andy will chop off his 17 inch long locks.

There will also be two large raffles with 20 prizes such as tickets to Marsh Farm, toy vouchers for Smyths and the Entertainer, and Mercury Theatre tickets.

Halloween-themed crafts will be available for children complemented by face painting, temporary tattoos and other family activities.

It will be held between 10.30am and 2pm.

Mrs Lamond, who also has a 17-month-old daughter, Bonnie, said: “Surpassing our initial target so quickly gave us such a boost as we were experiencing quite negative emotions.

“The money will make a real difference to the oncology ward at Addenbrooke’s and having the support of the play team when we first arrived made it so much easier.

“It’s a really nice place to be and I’m happy whenever I’m sent here – it’s become a second home.

“Clic Sargent helped us greatly in those first couple of weeks by explaining things and we had our own key worker, which others may not receive if the charity isn’t continually funded.”

With the event around the corner, the family is still looking for businesses to donate raffle prizes and want to hit the £4,000 mark.

Their efforts are a way of saying thank you for the outpouring of support they have received during this difficult time.

Mrs Lamond added: “I’m still on autopilot even though it’s been a few weeks because Daisy’s treatment has been really intense to start with so we’ve not had time to process how we’re feeling.

“At the hospital you’re almost in a bubble so cancer feels normal because everyone around you is also going through it.

“It’s amazed me how much Daisy has coped with but none of the children seem fazed by it, they just carry on.”

To donate click here or email lamond162@yahoo.co.uk.