LAST Christmas is one that the family of four-year-old Ella Maylor will never forget.

The Banbury youngster was diagnosed with leukaemia in the run-up to the festive season and was undergoing chemotherapy by Christmas Day.

Now in remission, her family are to host a seasonal fundraiser in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

A winter fayre will be held at Bodicote’s Church House, Church Street on Saturday.

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Mother Louise Sansom, 31, said: “It’s really painful to think about this time last year. It’s still been the hardest year of my life but it’s celebrating that our Christmas this year will be a lot different from our Christmas last year.”

After suffering infections that did not improve with medication, Ella was admitted to Banbury’s Horton General Hospital last November.

Ella, who attends Banbury’s St Mary’s Playgroup, had a blood transfusion and was transferred to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital where she had a bone marrow biopsy on December 2.

The next day she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and began chemotherapy.

She is now in remission but will need chemotherapy until March 2016.

Miss Sansom has been preparing for Saturday’s fundraiser since August with her mother Ann Sansom, 57, and partner Adam Maylor, 32.

It is the second time the family have hosted a charity event after raising £2,200 in January for the Horton’s children’s ward.

Miss Sansom, also mother to 22-month-old son Ethan, said: “If the research and charities did not exist, Ella’s chances of survival would have been incredibly lower.”

The noon to 3pm event will feature choir Wheatsheaf Consort, as well as a raffle and tombola, sweets, children’s games and a gift stall.

Mrs Sansom will also host a knitting and sewing stall for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

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