A STEVENSTON mum is competing in a UK pageant in support of a little boy who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of childhood cancer.

Stacey McIlroy is taking part in the Crown and Glory Pageant to raise funds for nine-year-old Dean Puplett’s £250,000 treatment fund to help him in his fight against neuroblastoma.

Dean, from Wales, was diagnosed with the disease when he was just three and, although he was successfully treated with chemotherapy, there is a chance that the cancer could return and his parents will have to face costly treatment.

Stacey, who owns Starla Hairdressers in Saltcoats, was moved by Dean’s story because he is the same age as her oldest son.

Mum of three Stacey told the Herald: “I’m doing the Crown and Glory Pageant to raise money for Dean.

“He’s the same age as my son and I couldn’t imagine having to raise over £250,000 to pay for his own treatment so when I heard about this, I decided I wanted to help.

“When a child gets neuroblastoma, there’s a very high chance of it coming back and it’s often more aggressive.

“But in the UK, children only get NHS treatment for free one time, then they have to pay for it a second time if the cancer returns and it’s really expensive.

“Sadly if they’re diagnosed the second time then it’s all about making their last few months comfortable because parents can’t afford the treatment.

“How many parents have a spare £250,000?

“If my wee boy was to get something like that, I wouldn’t have that money.

“I can’t imagine the turmoil Dean’s family must be going through.

“Dean’s parents are raising this money so that if the cancer does return they can afford to get treatment for him.

“If it doesn’t come back by the time he’s 17, all the money raised will go in the pot for other kids with neuroblastoma.”

Stacey took part in the Scottish heats of the Crown and Glory Pageant last year in support of Dean.

She won every title, including Miss Charity, which is awarded to the lady who has raised the most amount of money.

Stacey raised nearly £5,000 for Dean’s treatment fund and is now looking forward to competing in the UK final in Wrexham on Saturday, April 23.

The 35-year-old, who lives with husband George and their three children, Johnstone, nine, and five-year-old twins Marcus and Lucas, said: “I never thought that I would win.

“That was the first time I’d taken part in something like that so it was a bit of a shock.

“I just took part to raise money for charity. It was a lovely experience.”

You can visit Stacey’s Just Giving page here.