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Tyson Fury and Declan Rice send videos and pledge signed gear to support West Ham fan Isla Caton, 6, in her cancer fight
TYSON FURY and Declan Rice are the latest stars to throw their support behind inspiring West Ham fan Isla Caton, 6, in her fight against cancer.
Both men sent video messages and pledged signed gear as sports fans across the world have rushed to donate to the youngster's cause.
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Isla has been bravely battling neuroblastoma for almost five years.
It is an aggressive form of childhood cancer - the same condition young Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery suffered with.
Isla's super-mum Nikki has fronted the family's fundraising campaign since her daughter's diagnosis.
They have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to fund treatment and trials in the UK, Barcelona and America - and even united fans of fierce rivals West Ham and Millwall.
But in a heartbreaking video uploaded online on Monday, Nikki informed Isla's supporters that doctors would be stopping treatment as there was little more they could do to fight the disease.
With Isla having limited time left with us, a new campaign was launched to ensure her remaining days are as magical and fulfilling as possible.
YOU CAN DONATE TO .
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Hammers star Rice and club captain Mark Noble have supported Isla's Fight in the past.
And now Fury is the latest star to help out.
A video posted online by Baz Cox - a Hammers fan and long-term supporter of the cause - shows the heavyweight champ walking along and sending a special message.
He said: "Hey this is Tyson Fury AKA the Gypsy King.
"This is a special video for Isla. I'm going to donate some gloves and some t-shirts and some merch.
"I want you guys to get bidding, dig deep, let's raise some money guys. God bless."
On Thursday night, Fury's haul had reached £1,500 in an auction held on Cox's Instagram page.
He wrote: "Framed signed glove, trilogy camp training t-shirt, Gypsy King t-shirt, signed Tyson Fury ‘Behind the Mask’ book.
"All this could be yours. The highest current bid is £1,500.00 for the full set.
"This auction will end at 9pm Sunday with all money going to Isla.
"Once again @gypsyking101 thank you so so much.
"And not forgetting you @unicornsallya THANK YOU."
It came after England star Rice sent a video of his own on Tuesday.
He said: "Hello everyone, hope you're all doing well.
"I just wanted to do a quick video message just to say last night I heard the devastating news about Isla.
"Absolutely gutting, horrible news.
"I couldn't let it pass without doing my bit and trying to raise a little bit of money for her if possible.
"I've been speaking to Baz and I've said to him I'll give him two pairs of boots of mine that I've signed up.
"Hopefully they can raise a lot of money that can go to this little girl who has been amazing, incredible and strong."
After her diagnosis, most early donations came from West Ham fans but Isla's story soon struck a chord with supporters from across the UK and beyond.
Former Hammers star Robert Snodgrass has also been a champion of the cause and when she was having treatment there.
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And the Scot - who now plays for West Brom - recently chipped in £1,000 out of his own pocket.
Irons right-back Vladimir Coufal recently sent his own message of support.
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And Czech ambassador Libor Secka has been an active supporter since Coufal and compatriot Tomas Soucek joined the East Londoners.
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A recent message from the Caton family to West Ham supporters
Dear West Ham Family,
Isla Caton is almost seven.
She has been fighting stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer for almost five of her years on earth and in this time she has undergone more treatment than I can even express – from chemo, radiation, two stem cell transplants, countless amounts of bone marrow taken, brain surgery as well as a 12-hour operation to remove the main tumour.
She has had immunotherapy and MIBG therapy as well as so, so much more I could fill the page up and still need more room.
We were told in 2018 that Isla had three months to live so we sold everything we had and raised a lot of money and took Isla to Barcelona for life-saving treatment.
We stayed in Spain for two years fighting but when COVID hit we had to return home.
We have been informed this week that Isla’s treatment is no longer working and now decided to spend our time making sure Isla has the most wonderful life we can give her and to make as many amazing memories as we can.
So instead of fundraising for medical costs we now feel it's time to give Isla as much happiness as humanly possible – if anyone deserves it, it’s our baby girl.
. Thank you so much.
Isla is a real-life superhero and we live for today and make that as magical as we can.
I want to take this opportunity to really express how grateful I am for everything you all have done for us as a family.
All those years ago we had just had the most devastating news any family could ever get, and we knew we didn’t have much hope without raising huge amounts of money, we had nowhere to turn.
The players, led by Mark Noble and Robert Snodgrass, have gone above and beyond for Isla, stepping out onto the pitch with her in their arms and even coming to visit her in hospital in Barcelona, while players past and present have played in fundraising matches and donated items to be auctioned off.
To the Board and Club staff, we thank you so much for your help and for all the kindness you have shown us, for that we are forever grateful to each of you and we hope you will all continue to send your love to Isla.
To all those who have helped raise funds for our little girl, standing in the freezing wind and rain outside London Stadium and other grounds up and down the country, and to every single supporter who has donated towards Isla’s treatment, thank you for making our lives so much better and helping us see the light in the darkest of days.
My final thank you is to Shaun Wincott, who was the man to start all this. I will be forever grateful and the love and respect we have for you is like nothing else you are the real heart of all this and we love you x
Nikki Caton
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