AN inspirational Grays six-year-old battling cancer has been at the epicentre of fantastic fundraising efforts, including a charity day at Orsett Golf Club.

Dottie Rees has a brain tumour that was diagnosed 20 months ago and under the care and support from Great Ormond Street the world-renowned Dr Jeelani, carried out a six hour operation, where he managed to get 10 biopsies half the size of a grain of rice, to enable a course of treatment for her to commence.

She has just completed 63 sessions of chemotherapy and will be under constant surveillance, whilst her oncologist decides on next steps.

However, Dottie has refused to let the illness get her down and is taking part in several events organised by family and friends to raise awareness for Dottie and the journey she is on, including an appearance on ITV's This Morning Show

Dottie with Vernon Kaye.

Recently Orsett Golf Club hosted a golf charity event for Dottie. The day involved nearly 100 golfers who raised £11,750 for Dottie's Journey a trust which has been set up to support Dottie and her family to assist with Dottie's future needs.

The day was supported by many well-known local Thurrock businesses who all agreed it should be an annual event. Mercedes-Benz Lakeside provided added excitement to the event by offering a car for a successful Hole in One challenge. Sales Manager Ian Offord said: "We were really touched when we met Dottie and were only too pleased to assist in any way to support this magnificent event."

Mark White, President of Orsett Golf Club said: "When we were approached to host this event, we agreed immediately to support Dottie and her family. Dottie just melted our hearts, and I am so pleased the event has raised so much money for such a worthwhile cause.

"We would certainly like to consider making this an annual event and it was great to see so many of our local businesses support it."

In September 2020, Dottie was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and has just completed 63 sessions of chemotherapy under the care of Great Ormond St and Basildon Hospitals.

Louise Paterson-Rees, Dottie's mum, said: "It has been a very difficult time for us as a family when we received the news of Dottie's diagnosis. However, our family and friends have all been so supportive and it so gratifying that so many people and companies whom we have never met are so generous and supportive."

Dottie is becoming a little celebrity, after recently appearing on the This Morning Show with Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield with her dad John, at the same time as Louise was climbing Mount Snowden with former QPR legends Mark Bircham and Jamie Mackie and current players' wives Bianca Austin and Victoria Dykes, to raise awareness of children with cancer.

This was swiftly followed by Dottie receiving a putting lesson from Vernon Kay at the famous The Grove golf club at a Children with Cancer UK golf charity event.

Next up, Dottie will be supporting her uncle Joe, who is a former three-times UK karting champion and has been accepted by the Guinness World Records to try and break the world record for the longest distance travelled in 24 hours in a go-kart.

This event will take place at Teeside Raceway Circuit over 30 and 31 July.

Joe Paterson said: "We were all devastated when we found out about Dottie's situation. I have been thinking for some time what I could personally do to help Dottie and increase awareness of children with cancer.

"I have been fortunate to have raced karts all over the world in America , Europe and throughout the UK, managing to win the UK championship three times as well as many USA championships. I will use Dottie's courage and the journey she has been on for the last 20 months to give me inspiration to complete what will be a gruelling challenge and try and beat the world record, which is currently held by an American since 2019 and is 946 miles (1,522 kms).

"As well as Dottie coming up to support me, I have a fantastic team to help with my challenge including Dottie's dad John, who will be my mechanic and my dad Jim who is my race engineer and who throughout the challenge will be monitoring and calculating my progress".