THE family of a 10-year-old girl fighting leukaemia say they are so grateful to the Newton-le-Willows school community which has come together to support them.

Erin Hickey, of Tully Avenue, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in May, after her mum noticed small marks on her legs.

The Lyme Community Primary School pupil, described by mum Katie as a "gentle, clever bookworm", has now lost her long hair and will undergo chemotherapy for a two years.

Parents of other children at the Lyme Street school got together to raise funds and have so far collected almost £2,000 - which has been put towards two wigs and a pug dog which Erin named Albo.

The most recent fundraiser was a 32-mile bike ride, completed by 16 people, on Sunday (July 17) from Newton-le-Willows to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, and back.

Erin's mum, Katie Wright, said: "Erin had never been to the doctors, she was never sickly, had never taken antibiotics.

"One day I noticed these purplish marks on her legs, they weren't even very big, but from instinct I just knew something was wrong.

"Two days later, she was diagnosed with leukaemia."

Following the doctor appointment, when Erin's blood count was found to be low, a lumbar puncture confirmed she had leukaemia.

Katie, who also has sons Kian, 15, Harley, six, and Cooper, one, and daughter Rhea, 13, said: "It was a massive shock. At first, I didn't know how to get from one hour to the next, never mind from day to day.

"But we have to be strong and positive for Erin; crying is the last thing she needs to see us do."

She added: "She is an absolute star. I don't know where she gets her courage from. She has not complained about losing her hair, which was down to her bum. She's wearing wigs, hats and bandanas.

"She is back in school as mush as possible and she went to Alder Hey to see the people doing the sponsored bike ride despite being sick that morning."

She says Erin loves reading Roald Dahl books, watching family films and is very close to her older sister.

She said: "We are so grateful for the money people have been raising. Erin's step-dad is self-employed and has had to cut work right back for hospital visits and so on, so the money is a big help. The school is being fab with her too.

"Erin is over the moon with her pug Albo, and the wigs. She wants her hair to come back platinum blonde like one of the wigs! They say they will keep collecting so Erin can go on a trip to Lapland."

Samantha Morris, one of the fundraising organisers, said: "I have a son in class with Erin's brother. The whole school is rallying around. So far we've raised more than £1,800."

To donate money visit crowdfunding.justgiving.com/erinsjourney.