£5k raised for Southampton mum to help make memories with son

Abbie McMahon-Smith has raised £5,413 for her cousin, Chloe Cullen, after she hosted a 24 hour Danceathon to raise funds for an important cause.

In June 2019, Chloe was diagnosed with appendix cancer however it had spread to multiple organs by this point including her bowl, stomach, ovaries and spleen.

Chloe Cullen and her son Tommy.

Chloe was sent to Basingstoke Hospital where the specialise in stomach cancer.

They removed multiple organs and she had chemotherapy .

Later in the year, she had another round of chemo which finished in April 2020. She was given the all clear.

But not even a year later Chloe began to feel unwell again.

Abbie McMahon-Smith and Chloe Cullen.

During the week beginning March 22, Chloe, 31, received the news that her cancer had returned and this time it was incurable.

She was told that due to how quick the cancer had returned and how aggressive it was, doctors would not be able to operate.

Heartbroken by the new, Abbie, a 28-year-old operations assistant from Lordshill explained how she had sleepless nights worrying about Chloe and her nine-year-old son Tommy.

One night, Abbie decided she wanted to her her cousin have the opportunity to create as many treasure memories with her son as she could, and so set up the idea of a 24-hour Danceathon to raise the funds.

Abbie McMahon-Smith and Chloe Cullen.

Abbie said: "I wanted her to be able to have the opportunity to go and make as many memories with her little boy as possible.

"I couldn’t sleep one night so the thought of a dance a thon came to mind early hours of the morning and I set the page up and sent it to her to get her approval."

The Danceathon was hosted at 10am on April 10 in Abbie's back garden and she charged £2.50 per person to join the Zoom link so they could participate.

Abbie has three breaks in total and danced until 12pm the next day.

Abbie McMahon-Smith during the dancathon.

"The fundraiser went really well," she said.

"It was a lot harder than I had anticipated but it was really good fun. We set up a gazebo in my garden, some speakers, laptop and a projector so I could se everyone that joined on zoom."

Chloe's son Tommy has also been fundraising and has so far raised £450 for his mum.

As well as this, Abbie's 17-year-old sister Ellie carried out a sponsored head shave, and Chloe's two brothers, Liam and Ryan Cullen, did a 100K walk to raise money.

Chloe's best friend Chanel Young also started fundraising as well as two other Southampton girls, Amy Le Feurve and Anasthasia Laxton, who put together a raffle with more than 60 local businesses donating prizes.

Chloe Cullen and her son Tommy.

Abbie added: "All the money will be going straight to Chloe and Tommy to make as memories as they can, when the dreaded time comes and my cousin isn’t here anymore we will be putting any left over money into a savings account for Tommy for when he is older to hopefully buy his first car, a house. Whatever he wants to do with it.

"Chloe is the strongest, most courageous, genuine and thoughtful person I know. She always puts her son and everyone else before herself.

"When the danceathon finished she showed up with gifts, cards and flowers in my garden for myself and everyone who had helped me and supported me.

"That is just the person she is, she was my first and is my best friend and has been there every moment that I've ever needed her without fail."

To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/24-hour-virtual-dance-a-thon-for-chloe-cullen.