When young Hope Gilbert learned of little Charlie Barrett’s cancer diagnosis, she was determined to do something to help.

Despite being thousands of miles apart – Charlie and his family left Yeadon for Australia when his father got a job there in January 2011 – Hope decided to fundraise to enable Charlie’s grandparents to be with him at Christmas.

Hope, 11, and Charlie became friends through their mums. Vicki, Hope’s mum and Charlie’s mum Lisa met through their sons attending the same school in Yeadon.

Charlie was two when he was diagnosed with leukaemia shortly after the family arrived Down Under.

Lisa takes up the story: “Before leaving England, we all came down with flu as it was a particularly cold winter. Three weeks into our adventure in Australia, Charlie, our youngest who was then two, seemed to have a virus and his temperature just wouldn’t go down. We didn’t panic as we thought it was part of the bug we all had at Christmas.”

After taking Charlie to the doctors they were referred to the children’s A&E department in Brisbane, where Charlie had a blood test. “They told us they thought it was glandular fever at this point,” says Lisa.

“I vividly remember them asking us to go into the staff quarters where they sat us down and told us that the results had shown that it was highly likely Charlie had leukaemia and further tests needed to be done.”

The family were referred to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane for the tests to be carried out. “Paul and myself were in pieces as we thought the worst, that our little boy was going to die. I remember going outside and working out the time difference to call my mum to break the news – it was 5.30am UK time,” says Lisa.

Charlie’s treatment began immediately with chemotherapy, lumbar punctures and medication.

Lisa recalls it was a distressing time for the family and particularly for Charlie’s older brother Thomas, who was five at the time. “My mum jumped on the first plane she could and was with us for five weeks to help out,” says Lisa.

She praises the support they received from their family and the local community. “Another British ex pat who I became friends with set up a Facebook group called Charlie’s Christmas. She saw how much having my parents over to visit made us happier as a family and she knew we couldn’t fly home due to the cancer as it was too risky,” says Lisa.

“Various people I’d never met did sponsored walks, runs and Hope did ‘name the bear.’ I was so touched by her thoughtfulness and generosity to think to do this for Charlie at such a young age, too.”

Lisa says proceeds from the various fundraisers helped to pay for her parents’ tickets to fly out for Christmas.

Charlie’s Christmas page is still up and running and Paul is planning on taking part in the 200km cycle Ride To Conquer Cancer, which he rode in last year to fund research and development into curing cancer, but he still needs to raise $2,500 to participate.

Charlie is now two years into his three-year treatment plan. He is expected to be in remission by April next year. “The treatment has become part of his life and the worry never leaves me, you just manage to manage,” says Lisa.

“Hope was a little star in raising money for our cause, and it was very humbling to see such kindness from someone so young.”

In response to little Charlie’s plight, Hope has also supported CLIC Sargeant, a UK cancer charity for children and young people and their families providing clinical, practical, financial and emotional support. Lisa’s sister, Kathryn Boxall, is also actively involved in the charity.

No stranger to fundraising, Hope has previously supported Marie Curie Cancer Care after visiting the charity’s offices with her mum and learning about its invaluable work.

Since embarking on her first swimathon three years ago, Hope has raised hundreds of pounds for worthy causes. In her latest swimathon with mum Vicki and family friend Adam Phillips at Aireborough Pool, Hope raised more than £400 for Marie Curie.

She also raised £90 after baking a cake for Comic Relief.

Hope’s parents Vicki and Sean are proving to be an inspiration, having raised £2,500 for the Martin House children's’ hospice in Wetherby during the charity’s 20th anniversary celebrations four years ago. Sean ran and Vicki swam to boost the charity’s funds.

Says Hope: “Over three years I have done many fundraising events. The first time I did something was in 2010 when I did my first swimathon. I raised £1,094 and from then I’ve just felt like helping whenever I can.”

Hope says she wanted to raise the money for Charlie so his grandparents could be with him at Christmas.

“I thought it was a nice thing to do. Christmas is a time for family and friends and it was good for Charlie to have them around at such a hard time,” she says.

Proud mum Vicki adds: “Hope is very thoughtful, it’s great for someone of her age to learn that we’re very fortunate in so many ways and that not everyone is, and that we should do our best to help.

“Many of her ideas are her own such as baking the Red Nose cake to raffle. I am proud that she is using her talents such as swimming and baking in such a productive way, as well as enjoying herself.”

The family are also supporting Zoe’s Place in Liverpool – one of three baby-specific hospices in the UK offering care and support for babies with life-limiting or terminal illnesses – in memory of Vicki’s mum who died last year.

Vicki’s latest challenge is an outdoor one-mile swim at Salford Quays in Manchester in July to raise funds for the Greater Manchester Children’s Hospital, and Hope plans to participate in a swimathon next year.

To support Charlie’s family’s fundraising campaign, visit br13.conquercancer.org.