Last updated at 19:48, Thursday, 05 July 2012

A family fun day to raise money for Maryport meningitis tot Lillie-Mai Jackson will take the place of next week’s cancelled town carnival.

The event on Saturday, July 14, which would have been carnival day, will be held at Maryport Rugby Club.

It is being organised by fund-raisers and sponsored by Highland Farms and Maryport Town Council.

Its purpose is to raise money for the Lillie-Mai Trust Fund, say thank you to fund supporters and give Maryport’s best-known tot a treat of her own.

Running from 1.30pm to 6pm, the event will feature entertainment from the CFM roadshow presented by Pete Moss and will include The Pulse, Swift, Brian Dawson and Martiny’s Magic.

There will be a bird of prey display, circus workshop, a rigging display by Maryport Sea Cadets, and skills by the town’s Army Cadets.

Other entertainment will include face painting, a fun fair, slides, gladiator games, sumo suits and zorb balls.

Margaret Little, Lillie-Mai’s grandmother, said: “In some ways this event is not as much about raising money as about saying thank you.

“I want Lillie-Mai to have a good day. I can’t wait to see her reaction.”

Entry is £3 for adults and free to children.

All profits will go to the Lillie-Mai Trust Fund to buy flexible artificial legs for the girl who lost both legs and an arm after contracting meningitis when she was four months old.

Maryport’s annual carnival was scrapped because of high running costs and a shortage of volunteers.

First published at 19:21, Thursday, 05 July 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk