In December 2021, Elsie's world changed forever when she was diagnosed with CLN3 Batten Disease at the age of 10. This rare and progressive condition poses a formidable challenge, gradually diminishing Elsie's ability to walk, talk, and swallow, all while she battles seizures. With an incidence rate of roughly 1 in 50,000 children, this disease casts a shadow over childhoods, and unfortunately, is terminal.

Meet Elsie – a 'Sassy' 10-year-old with an infectious love for funny YouTube videos, Disney+, and Netflix, coupled with a joy for singing loudly for all to hear. Elsie's parents, Caz and Phil, describe their daughter's resilience amidst adversity, highlighting her love for life despite the challenges she faces daily. The family, from Driffield, East Yorkshire, is navigating this journey with strength and determination, ensuring Elsie's time is filled with laughter and joy.

However, the road ahead is not without obstacles. The family is on a mission to raise £200,000 to support Elsie's full-time care at home, ensuring she can continue to make cherished memories with her loved ones. As Elsie's sight rapidly decreases, her family is dedicated to fulfilling her wish list, which includes meeting idols like Stormzy and Little Mix.

The community of Driffield has rallied around Elsie's cause, extending a helping hand to ease the family's financial burden. Local organizations and individuals are actively involved in fundraising efforts, with a particular focus on constructing a specialist extension and an extensive remodelling of the family home to accommodate Elsie's unique needs.

In a heartening display of community spirit, Gary Hoggard and Duncan McFarlane, Branch Directors at MKM Driffield, embraced the opportunity to support Elsie's appeal. What started with a visit from local builder, James Lee, soon blossomed into a community-wide initiative. Hoggard and McFarlane, moved by Elsie's story, initiated a campaign to secure essential materials for the construction – and the response was overwhelming.

Through a dedicated WhatsApp group, the community came together, contributing both funds and materials. The result? Over £30,000 raised through customer donations, supplier support, and various fundraising activities, showcasing the incredible generosity and compassion of Driffield's residents.

Duncan McFarlane, reflecting on the community's response, emphasised the willingness of everyone, be it suppliers or customers, to lend a helping hand:

‘As soon as we were approached by James to help with Elsie’s build, we had no hesitation in jumping straight in to do whatever we could. I would just like to say that everyone we have approached, suppliers or customers, everyone has been keen to help whether it is products or cash donations to buy goods. In a world full of problems for many people the response has been amazing. Hopefully with everyone’s efforts we can bring a little bit of joy and relief to Elsie and her family.’

If you would like to get involved increasing funds for such a worthy cause, there’s a few options available:

Donate directly to the cause via GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/elsies-appeal-enabling-her-care-needs-to-be-met

Visit the dedicated website here and look at the conversations on the Facebook page.

If you would like to assist the MKM Driffield by funding materials, please get in touch by phone on 01377 256 888, or email driffield@mkmbs.co.uk. Alternatively, pop into the branch for a chat – Mill Street, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 6TS

You can also donate your time by generating sponsorship from running marathons, climbing challenges, participating in cake bakes, holding fun event days and more.

The response to Elsie's appeal stands as a beacon of hope and a reminder that, when communities come together, remarkable things can happen. As construction begins on the specialist extension and Elsie's wish list unfolds, the collective efforts of this community are not only changing one brave girl's life but also leaving a mark on the hearts of everyone involved.