THE horse racing community has rallied to support the family of a desperately ill boy who are trying to raise enough money to pay for specialist cancer treatment.

Eight-year-old Luke Bell, from Darlington, has been battling neuroblastoma for two years, but his family were told recently that his cancer had spread and he may only have weeks to live.

An appeal has been launched to raise the £10,000 needed to fly him to Barcelona to undergo trial treatment.

Among those touched by Luke’s plight was jockey’s valet Steve Charlton from High Etherley, near Bishop Auckland. To raise awareness of Luke’s battle, he dressed as an elf while working at Catterick racecourse on Tuesday and organised a collection.

And on Wednesday, after racing at Hexham, Mr Charlton and a group of leading jockeys paid Luke a visit at his home in Darlington.

Among them was the North’s leading jockey, Brian Hughes, who has already passed the 100 winner mark for the season and currently lies third in the national jump jockeys championship.

Mr Charlton said: “It was quite emotional to be honest.

“What set me off on this was my little grandson, who had his second birthday recently.

“I had a picture of him in my mind’s eye at eight-years-old and I asked myself how I would feel – it didn’t bear thinking about. That’s why I decided to galvanise myself to do something.

“Brian Hughes is really busy, he rode his 100th winner of the season last week, but he’s a fabulous guy and a great role model for young lads. He really made the effort to help me at Catterick, going round with a collecting bucket.”

Mr Charlton raised more than £1,500 at Catterick, plus another £700 at Hexham.

His efforts at Catterick were highlighted when he was interviewed wearing his elf outfit on the Racing UK channel.

But Mr Charlton said that didn’t reveal the full story.

“What the camera didn’t show was that I was in my boxer shorts,” he said. “I was freezing my bits off.”

Leading figures from the flat racing world, including Darlington trainer Michael Dods, and jockeys Jamie Spencer and PJ McDonald, have also contributed about £1,000 through Luke’s Justgiving page. Other high-profile jockeys like Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty have helped by re-tweeting the appeal.

Mr Charlton said this typifies the spirit within the horse racing community, adding: “They come good every time. Jockeys are a very close band of brothers. They rally round every time and I’m so proud of them."

Mr Charlton, who had a cancer scare himself a few years ago, is hoping to continue raising money and awareness at his staff Christmas party in Hardwick Hall this evening, when he is threatening to wear his elf costume – and boxer shorts – again.

He said: “It’s about getting the word out to people. I’ve had a little taste of it – nothing much, but it’s really devastating when you hear that ‘C’ word.

“I really admire Luke’s parents. They’re holding up and they’re so strong and it’s good for them to feel that people are doing something and want to help them.”

lDonations can be made via justgiving.com or email teamlukebell@outlook.com to arrange a fundraising event.