Post by Focus on Jun 27, 2013 15:43:45 GMT
ENGLISH Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson has responded furiously after a charity refunded almost £6,000 he raised in an effort to save a two-year-old dying from cancer.
EDL leader Tommy Robinson had raised close to £6,000 for Amelia-Mae
Little Amelia-Mae Davies is in desperate need of life-saving surgery that costs over £250,000 and will not be funded by the NHS.
A JustGiving fundraising page, which was set up by Robinson's friend and stated the EDL leader would be participating in fundraising events, has now been made unaccessible.
The charity has refunded the £5798.87 raised and has also offered to reimburse Amelia-Mae's appeal with the money raised by Robinson so far from the charity's general funds.
However, Robinson has slammed the charity's decision, stating: "They're giving back money from a girl that is going to die, it's mad to me."
"I don't care if the charity hammers us as an organisation, just don't give the money back," he said.
He argued the family are not EDL supporters, and added he had no association with them before attempting to donate to their public appeal.
"When I saw Amelia-Mae's suffering, I saw this family needed help and I wanted to do everything I could," he said.
"There's a girl here who could die in three or four months and I'm in a position where I can help.
"I thought it would be a good opportunity to do some good out of the fact I'm a known figure."
A spokesman for the family said: "We would take money from anyone regardless of race, religion or political standing."
"This is a race against time and we are desperate for help."
"We appreciate everything Tommy did, but we also don't want ostracize the charity."
Family, don't want to ostracize the charity."
The EDL leader has declared he will continue to do all he can to raise money for Amelia-Mae.
"Whether the charity likes it or not, I'm putting on an Amelia t-shirt and raising awareness," he said.
"This isn't about me, this isn't about the EDL, I'm doing this as a dad."
Bettina Bungay-Balwah, Acting Chief Executive of the Neuroblastoma Children's Cancer Alliance UK, said the charity does not accept political donations.
"The Neuroblastoma Children’s Cancer Alliance is politically neutral and, as such, is not associated with the EDL and its fundraising activities," she said.
"Ultimately, it is our goal to prevent families like Amelia-Mae’s being in the position of having to fundraise desperately to pay for treatment abroad.
"The NCCA UK will continue its efforts to help families access available treatment while making more options available here in the UK through its INBRC research collaborative.”
I don't fcking believe this!! - ["This is a race against time and we are desperate for help", "We appreciate everything Tommy did, but we also don't want ostracize the charity."] - then why the hell would you sanction the return of a £6,000 donation?? - Disgusting!! - Fx
