IF there was one thing that put a smile on little Aalish Naylor’s face, it was going on rides at theme parks.
The eight-year-old loved rides - the bigger the better - and was constantly aiming to grow taller so she could go on different ones.
Aalish died in June, two-and-a-half years after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer which affects the nerve tissue.
Following her diagnosis, she underwent gruelling chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. But she still managed to get to Blackpool, Lightwater Valley, Gulliver’s Kingdom, and Disneyland Paris.
Now, her parents Jo and Martin, of Hawthorne Crescent, Dodworth, are forming Aalish’s ‘RidetheTheme’ Dream - a charity which aims to help other children with neuroblastoma and their families enjoy a day out at a theme park.
Jo, 41, said: “Aalish loved theme parks - the bigger the ride, the better. She had no fear of anything and it actually annoyed her that she wasn’t tall enough to get on the Pepsi Max (at Blackpool).
“She was always aiming to grow so she could get on the Revolution. When we had her measured, she was 122cm and would say ‘only five more centimetres and I’ll be able to go on the Revolution’.
“At Disneyland Paris, she went on every ride possible. She went on ones in the dark, backwards and forwards, upside down.
“It was the excitement of getting on the bigger and better rides. She lived for it.
“It was something that gave her a lot of happiness and took her away from hospitals and treatment and medication. It showed her there was another side of life.
“As a parent, you want to see a smile on your child’s face when they are going through that.”
Jo is aiming to raise £5,000 to get the charity registered and start helping other families. She said it had been tough since Aalish died, but she and Martin had tried to carry on as best they could.
She said: “It’s been a bit strange. We have good days and bad days. The funeral was a lovely day, in the right kind of way. It’s been six-and-a-half weeks now, and everything has become a bit more real. It’s very hard to accept. We’re plodding on best we can and we’re focussing in Aalish’s brother Jack. He won an award at school for being brave while facing a challenge.
“What I’m hoping to do is start a charity in memory of Aalish. We’d like to work alongside the children’s hospital and Clic Sargent teams and oncology departments, and help families with children who have neuroblastoma.
“We want to be able to send a family on an all expenses day out to a theme park of their choice.
“We’re trying to raise some money, and we want to become a registered charity, but we need £5,000 to do that.
“It’s all focussed on what Aalish loved to do and keeping her memory alive.”
Jo is organising some fundraising events to help kickstart the fundraising.
To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/joanne-naylor
