OXFORD United fans joined forces with rival Port Vale supporters to raise more than £1,000 for a three-year-old girl with a rare disorder.

In August, before the U’s played Accrington Stanley at the Kassam Stadium, U’s fan Dave Cudd read about the plight of Tess Sullivan, from Huncoat near Accrington.

She is one of only 50 children in the world to have the genetic, degenerative Alexander Disease.

Mr Cudd, 52, and fellow supporters, collected £555 outside the stadium towards the £6,400 cost of a Disney cruise for her and her family.

On Saturday, before the U’s took on league leaders Port Vale at the Kassam, Mr Cudd linked up with Tim Rackley, the landlord of The Priory pub, to get more donations.

Mr Rackley charged £2 for fans to use the pub car park and donated the proceeds towards the fund.

More than £1,540 was raised and the total, including donations taken at the Accrington vs Newcastle League Cup clash, now stands at about £2,465 – just over half the total needed for the cruise.

He said: “Oxford, Port Vale, Newcastle and Accrington fans have all come together to help the Sullivan family.

“I first found out about this little girl on the Internet when I was trying to research the Accrington Stanley team before the game.

“It’s heartbreaking because her body will gradually shut down.

“We want to do as much as we can to help the Sullivan family get the money together for this Disney cruise.”

Port Vale fan John Amos, 55, from Stoke-on-Trent, who was at the game with his sister Christine Wintle, 51, said: “We have made a donation because it’s such a good cause.

“I’ve got a grand-daughter who is two-months-old and I think some things are more important than football.

“It’s great the way that fans from different teams can come together like this.”

affrench@oxfordmail.co.uk

  • You can donate to Tess’s fund through the Paypal account 73HFRARXZJ3TG in the name of Helen Sullivan, and her email address is helensullivan@hotmail.co.uk