January will mark 12 months since West Ham United lost courageous young supporter Isla Caton.
The seven-year-old passed away on 25 January 2022, five years after being diagnosed with the rare child cancer neuroblastoma, having captured the hearts of the football world.
Isla’s bravery saw her inspire supporters, not just of her beloved West Ham, but of clubs from across the country and beyond, as well as sportspeople and celebrities, raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for pioneering treatment.
Following Isla’s death, her family – mother Nicola Caton, father Michael Hook and sibling Millie – partnered with the charity Solving Kids’ Cancer to create The Isla Caton Fund, which has already raised over £200,000 for pioneering and innovative neuroblastoma research.
To raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for the condition, Michael will drive from the family home in Hornchurch in Essex to the Moroccan city of Marrakesh over the Christmas and New Year period.
The self-funded trip, which Michael will undertake in his 1998 yellow Saab, will see him drive through Europe to the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital in Spain, where Isla received treatment for two-and-a-half years and she was visited by West Ham midfielders Mark Noble and Robert Snodgrass.
From there, he will visit the town of Sitges, where the family lived during Isla’s treatment, and the cities of Alicante and Marbella, where expatriate Hammers helped raise funds for that treatment.
After taking the ferry to Morocco, Michael will drive to the city of Marrakesh, before making a return journey via Portugal, Spain and France back to England – a round trip of some 4,500 miles ending on 6 January 2023.
“Isla was not defined by cancer,” said Michael. “She was a normal happy little girl who lived life to the fullest. She enjoyed every single moment of it and had the most infectious smile.
“Wish me luck everyone and keep the sponsorship coming. This cancer is extremely deadly and needs money to fund trials that will hopefully one day find a cure to this nightmare of a disease. Thank you for all your support.”
Michael aims to raise £100,000 from his trip. To find out more and make a donation, click here.
