A TEENAGER has raised more than £2,000 by staging a concert and other events to fund life-saving treatment for a friend battling a rare cancer.

Chelsea Williams, a student at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, in Darlington, attracted young performers from across the country to perform at Northallerton College after learning 11-year-old Gaby Alderson had stage four MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma.

Chelsea, of Northallerton, said she was determined to boost the £500,000 appeal for relapse treatment – which is unavailable on the NHS - for South Otterington Primary School pupil Gaby, should she need it.

The 16-year-old sold 120 tickets for Gig For Gaby, featuring singers Jamie Eldridge, Josh Brennan, Alex Wallhead and Joseph Neal, and Northallerton College students, Emma Taylor and Aaron Turner, and approached local firms to donate raffle prizes.

Chelsea, who works part-time at Tesco in Northallerton, also secured refreshments from the supermarket and the venue free and with help from her family sold more than £650-worth of wristbands.

The day after generating £950 through the concert, Chelsea organised a charity bag pack at the supermarket, which raised a further £350.

Chelsea’s mother, Lisa, said: “Gaby and a few of her friends managed to attend for a short while and went back stage to have pictures taken and get autographs. “Gaby told her mum, Vicky, it was just the best night she had ever had.”

Chelsea is now trying to stage a larger gig for the appeal at Manchester O2 Academy, and is seeking a sponsor for the £500 venue deposit.

For details, email mattchels@tiscali.co.uk

Following an auction on Easter Sunday at the Whitestonecliffe Inn, Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe that generated £8,840, fundraisers are set to further the appeal with a fashion show, hosted by Emmerdale actor Emma Atkins, who plays Charity Sharma, on Friday, May 9, at 7.30pm at the Allerton Court Hotel, Northallerton.

The show will feature 20 children, including Gaby if she is well enough, and 20 adults modelling clothes from Little Quakers and Harriet’s, while Umpie bags, Shine Hair and Beauty, Stella and Dot Jewellery and Temple Spa will demonstrate their product ranges.

For tickets, costing £15 which include drinks, canapés and goodie bags, visit the Voluntary Service Association, South Parade, Northallerton.

For details about fundraising, visit facebook.com/GabrielleAldersonsAppeal or Twitter @gabysappeal.

Donate via Justgiving.com/NCCAUKGabrielles-journey, text GABR78 followed by an amount up to £10 to 70070, or send a cheque made payable to The NCCA UK - Gabrielle Alderson's Journey, to The NCCA UK, 5 Harmood Grove, London, NW1 8DH.