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Oliver so happy to be making a splash again

Oliver with mum Natalie, happy in the pool
Oliver with mum Natalie, happy in the pool

Splashing around in the swimming pool was even better for Oliver Smith than he remembered.

The three-year-old's mum Natalie took him to Sheerness pool last week for the first time since he was a baby.

Oliver has the childhood cancer neuroblastoma and hadn't been able to go swimming since he fell ill because of the medical lines he had to have.

Oliver with mum Natalie, happy in the pool
Oliver with mum Natalie, happy in the pool

But those lines have now been removed so Natalie took Oliver for a splash around which she said he thoroughly enjoyed.

She said: "I had to drag Oliver out of the pool kicking and screaming - he absolutely loved it.

"He can't wait to go again."

Since we first reported on Oliver's illness in June, generous Islanders have not stopped organising events to raise money towards the £150,000 total.

The money is to pay for treatment he could need in Germany if his condition gets worse.

Last Monday a quiz held at Sheppey Sports and Social Club in Halfway raised £125.

On Thursday, psychic Marcus Cinganelli did a show at Sheerness Golf Club in Halfway.

Natalie, of Coral Road, Minster, said he did the show for free and ticket sales and a raffle boosted the appeal total by £1,171.12.

Over the weekend Karina Chetwynd, of Sheerness solicitors John Copland and Sons, raised £300 by holding an auction and car boot sale.

Oliver with mum Natalie, happy in the pool
Oliver with mum Natalie, happy in the pool

On Saturday, an album called Help Oliver was launched at the Beach pub in Minster.

Singer/songwriter Jody Bodiam came up with the idea for the CD and 12 local musicians recorded tracks for the album.

Kyle Barton, who runs mobile recording company Stegosaurus Studios, helped Jody produce it and did the sound on the night.

Sheerness-based Jenwoods printed the CD artwork for free.

At the launch event there were acoustic performances from a number of the artists who appear on the album, including Acoustic Ali, Paul L and Hayley Kennedy.

CD sales and collection buckets sent round raised about £250.

Added onto the running total, these events have boosted it to £54,919.

  • Copies of the Help Oliver CD cost £5 each. They are available by emailing bodornic@hotmail.co.uk or from the Times Guardian office.

Oliver's mum Natalie has had some wristbands made to raise more money for the appeal.

Oliver Smith Appeal logo
Oliver Smith Appeal logo

The bands, which are white with red and black writing, are to boost the appeal total and also for Islanders to show their support to Oliver.

They cost £2 each and Natalie is hoping they could raise as much as £10,000.

Wristbands are on sale in the Times Guardian office.

If Oliver does not need the money, it will be redistributed to other causes related to neuroblastoma through the charity Families Against Neuroblastoma.

Oliver Smith, two
Oliver Smith, two

Fundraising events still to come for the Oliver Smith Appeal include:

  • The Albion pub, High Street, Blue Town, is hosting a Halloween party on Saturday from 8pm until late.
  • Staff from AmicusHorizon, Broadway, Sheerness, will be doing a sponsored walk from their offices to Minster and back on Monday.
  • Another sponsored walk, organised by Oliver's step brother and sister Alfie Smith and Jade Carpenter, will take place from Sittingbourne train station to Beachfields, Sheerness, on Sunday, November 6.
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