A DAD-of-three given just six months to live has been moved to tears by his children's selfless act of selling their toys in their bid to raise funds to extend his life.
After the Express revealed terminally-ill househusband, Dave Hall, 40, who has a cancerous brain tumour, needs to have treatment costing £5,000 in the USA which could prolong his life, his little-ones have kick-started the 'Save Dave' campaign by putting their precious possessions up for auction on eBay.
The toys include much-loved teddy bears, lego and radio-controlled items which are now attracting a host of bids from well-wishers.
Dave said this week: "They're amazing - I might get to see my kids next Christmas because of what they've done."
And The Caron Keating Foundation, set up by TV presenter Gloria Hunniford after her daughter died of breast cancer, has promised to pay for flights to the US and also accommodation during Dave's stay.
Dave's wife Shirley, 40, of Rotherhead Drive, a receptionist at Macclesfield Hospital A&E, is over the moon at the progress that has been made since the family were featured in the Express two weeks ago.
She said: "The response to the original article has been amazing and I want to thank the Express for everything you have done. Without your story the kids wouldn't have come up with their idea and Gloria Hunniford wouldn't have come forward - we are all so grateful."
Clever kids Daniella, 13, Callum, eight, and Lucia, three, have so far attracted bids totalling £1,300 from their internet auction, flogging teddies, Lego and even a treasured guitar - a gift from Dave to his step-daughter Daniella.
All Hallows pupil Daniella said: "When I found out about dad I thought it was the end and things were a mess, but now we might get to see him for longer - and that makes me happy." The three children launched their toy-selling campaign with heartfelt messages in a video diary last week, which they plan to update weekly, and are also doing sponsored walks and bike rides.
The toys on eBay include little Lucia's favourite Teddies, which she picked herself and have risen from a reserve price of 20p each to a grand total of £500 - along with her remote-controlled dog and little ironing board.
Footie-mad Callum is also auctioning a radio-controlled quad bike, a Robodog currently valued at £100, and Lego, standing at an astronomical £62.
He said: "I love Robodog - but I really want to raise money for my dad and Cancer Research."
Since snooker-mad Dave appeared in the Express he has become something of a household name throughout the country after appearing on GMTV, Granada Reports and North West Tonight.
Shirley said: "It was so tiring doing all those shows in one day and Dave wasn't very well with just having had chemotherapy. But it's good to get it out there and hopefully raise some more money for the trip."
Ironically, big-hearted Dave had just posed as Mr May on a charity calendar for Macclesfield's Silktown Snooker Club when he was given the devastating news of his own illness back in October last year. Dave was informed he had an aggressive brain tumour after complaining of headaches.
But by then surgeons could only remove half of the three-inch tumour because of the risk of leaving the former Rieter Scraggs worker disabled or blind. The ex-steel turner is now undergoing six months of chemotherapy - but if the treatment isn't successful his consultant will recommend him for the month-long trial in Boston for cancer drug Recentin.
The family still need to raise the rest of the £5,000 to send Dave and Shirley to America, which will be necessary if the next round of chemotherapy is unsuccessful.
Shirley said: "Dave's a wonderful father and has been really moved by what the children are doing - especially when he saw that Daniella was auctioning her guitar - as we know how much it means to her."
- TO make a donation to the Save Dave fund call into the Macclesfield Express office on Chestergate or log onto www.myworld.ebay.co.uk/thedavehallfamily where you can bid for the toys or donate, with all proceeds going to Cancer Research if Dave does not get on the American trial.
