A Bradford businessman is throwing his weight behind a £50,000 fundraising campaign to give a little girl the gift of sight.

Peter Kearns, who has three pubs and a hotel in Wibsey, is organising two charity nights for 18-month-old Lamiyah Ellsworth, of Little Horton, who has been blind since birth due to a rare brain condition, septo-optic dysplasia.

Doctors told her mum, 22-year-old Larelle Ellsworth, there was no cure.

But the single mum discovered via the internet how stem cell treatment in China was helping other children with the same condition to see.

Lamiyah was accepted for treatment but she must raise £50,000 to go. Larelle turned to the Telegraph & Argus to publicise her campaign and the article was read by Mr Kearns.

“It immediately touched my heart,” he said.

Both charity nights will take place at the Market Tavern in Wibsey.

On Saturday, February 12, from 8pm, there will be a black tie and diamond night, including canapes and champagne. Donations of £5 are requested. The second event, on the evening of Friday, February 18, is an audience with former London gangster turned author and actor Dave Courtney.

Mr Kearns said: “A Bradford character, Jack Binns, put me in touch with Dave and he said he would do the event for free.”

The evening will also include an auction. Mr Binns has donated two framed photographs of sketches by his friend, robber Charles Bronson, who he visits in Wakefield Prison.

For more information about the fundraising campaign and how to help, visit lamiyahs-dream.moon fruit.com

e-mail: claire.lomax @telegraphandargus.co.uk