HOWZAT for a fundraising boost?

A campaign to raise £500,000 to send a two-year-old cancer sufferer for treatment in the US has secured a huge shot in the arm.

Yorkshire and England cricketer Tim Bresnan has decided to make Bradley Lowery’s Fight one of two chosen charities for his upcoming benefit year.

Bradley, of Blackhall, east Durham, has the rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma.

Bresnan, a 28-year-old bowler, heard about his plight through Tracy Buckley, his Darlington-based PA, and was moved to help because his wife had just given birth to a baby boy, Max.

He said: “Tracy asked me for a signed England shirt to help with fundraising.

“My wife Hannah and I had just become parents to a little boy ourselves and his story just touched both our hearts.

“I hope that by selecting Bradley as one of the beneficiaries of my benefit year, I will help raise awareness of the fight he and his family are going through.”

A number of high-profile events during the coming year will now raise money for Bradley and the Leeds-based children’s cancer charity Candlelighters.

The first will see newly retired England spinner Graeme Swann will host a gala dinner at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on Thursday, April 10.

There will be a three-course dinner, several other England cricketers will attend and Swann will also perform with his band.

Tickets are £100 plus VAT, or £800 plus VAT for a table of ten.

The evening starts at 7.30pm. For further details, email: enquiries@timbresnanbenefit.co.uk Bradley recently underwent high dose chemotherapy at Newcastle Royal Infirmary and although he is now off life support machines, high risk neuroblastoma has an 80 per cent relapse rate even if cured – and there is no relapse treatment in the UK.

According to its website, Bradley’s campaign has already raised more than £127,000 to send him to the US if necessary.

For more information, visit bradleylowerysfight.org.uk or timbresnanbenefit.co.uk