THE mother of a seven-year-old girl who is battling cancer has thanked the whole Padiham community and her school for ‘support beyond belief’.

Little Tia Taggart, who attends St John The Baptist RC Primary School, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma last October and has undergone 35 sessions of radiotherapy for tumours in her bones.

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Her teachers and fellow pupils had the idea to produce small decorative angels and sell them for £1 each to support Tia and her family, mum and dad Lee and Gillian and nine-year-old sister Tegan with travel costs to Manchester Children’s Hospital for treatment.

The original target was £40, however, the Jet Set Angels project has been such a success that more than £2,000 has been raised and the trinkets have been publicised by celebrities including Burnley manager Sean Dyche, singer Rick Astley and CBeebies star Andy Day.

Tia and the class also received a letter of support from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Class teacher Carole Carlile said the way the project had taken off and the support of the community had left her ‘stunned’.

She said: “From immediately after lovely little Tia was diagnosed we decide to help her as she went through this gruelling treatment.

“She never stops smiling and her determination and positivity are truly beyond belief.

“Even when she lost her hair it didn’t knock her out of her stride.

“Our project has taken off beyond out wildest expectations and the wider Padiham community has done over events to raise thousands.

“They are made of sparkly beads and little baubles and many people have told us they use them as good luck charms.

“We’ve sold them all over the world, in every continent apart from Antarctica.”

Tia’s mother Gill, said: “What Tia’s classmates have done and the staff at the school has been beyond the call of duty.

“Our family has received so much support and love during her illness. That also goes for the wider community in Padiham, from friends and strangers alike. It’s the kind of community spirit we used to see and it proves it’s still there.”

The money will now be used for Tia and her family to take a holiday.

Jo Turton, chief executive of Lancashire County Council, congratulated “I understand that the project, along with other support being provided to the family, has taken up a significant amount of time and energy which has been given freely and generously. the school on undertaking the project .

that I have no doubt is helping all members of the school community in coming to terms with the illness encountered by Tia.”