THE raffle of a vintage tractor has raised £45,000 towards a fundraising campaign to send a three-year-old boy to the US for lifesaving medical treatment.

Freddie Thompson, who lives in Ampleforth with his parents Philip and Emily and older brother Oscar, was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma last year.

In February his parents Philip and Emily, along with a team of 15 friends, launched the fundraising campaign to raise £250,000 to send Freddie for pioneering vaccine treatment in America which has, in trials, decreased the chance of relapse to 30 per cent.

Although that target has been met, Freddie’s Fighters are continuing to fundraise towards further maintenance treatments

The tractor raffle was drawn by Peter Wright, The Yorkshire Vet, with winner Natalie Douthwaite, from Northallerton, claiming a vintage 1974 Ford 3000 tractor.

Natalie said: “I am absolutely over the moon, I never for one moment thought I would win. I have always wanted to take part in tractor runs and look forward to driving my new Ford all around the countryside.”

David Hymas, who donated the tractor, said: “The tractor has great sentimental value to me and I look forward to seeing Natalie at local tractor events. We have been absolutely blown away by the support of everyone who bought tickets and who gave up their spare time to help us sell tickets at 28 events.”

The second prize, an Ifor Williams Trailer, donated by Freddie’s grandfather David Thompson, was won by James Hughes, from Tadcaster, and the third prize, a bespoke transport box was won by John Steel, from Boroughbridge.

Freddie’s parents, Emily and Philip, said: “Freddie has just finished his second round of immunotherapy. It has taken its toll on his body, he is very tired and has also had a really bad cold to fight at the same time. This week he starts the third round with two weeks vitamin A treatment prior to the immunotherapy.

“Freddie had been very brave during his treatment, it has been heartbreaking to see him so unwell, but he is fighting and keeping us going. We have three more rounds of immunotherapy to go and, fingers crossed, we are looking to travel to America for the vaccination at the start of next year.

“We are so overwhelmed by the support everyone has given us and cannot thank everyone enough for everything they have done for us.”

For more information, find Freddie’s Fight on Facebook.