A FAIRFORD businesswoman is devoting her energies into raising money to help two young Fairford girls, Chris Roberts writes.

Bettina Harvey, who owns Hector & Queen, a local business specialising in the design and production of children’s handmade furniture, and sleepwear, is hoping to raise £3,000 to help Fairford girls Eleri Hooper and Poppy Blackburn, both of whom have been diagnosed with different types of cancer.

Eleri is a happy and vivacious seven year old, who has been diagnosed with a very rare form of bone cancer called osteosarcoma. The disease is so rare that only around 25-30 people are diagnosed with this each year.

Three year-old Poppy has been diagnosed with leukaemia and has to undergo a vigorous treatment programme for the next two years.

Bettina said: ‘Like most towns, Fairford has grown incredibly quickly and, as a result, it seems that we’re not as aware as perhaps we should be about issues happening right on our doorstep.

"It recently came to my attention that these two families living in Fairford have had their lives turned upside down and I would like to help them and would ask other people to help them too.’

Bettina is organising an Artisan Gift & Craft Fair in Fairford Community Centre on Saturday, October 6 between 10am and 4.30pm. In addition to 20 hand-picked artisan stalls, there will be a 7a Coffee Shop pop-up serving delicious home-made treats including their world famous brownies; a raffle offering amazing prizes; free face-painting, squash and biscuits for little ones and a ‘real’ unicorn will be visiting!

All money raised will be going to help the families of the two little girls. If you cannot attend the event, you can still donate on the Crowdfunding page justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Bettina-harvey.