Dozens of youngsters at a junior football club are helping to raise money for the family a brave five-year-old boy currently being treated for leukaemia.

Little Alfie Fagan, of Shelley, recently fell ill and was diagnosed with the blood disease. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

Alfie is the son of Mark Fagan, who was head of first team operations at Huddersfield Town during the club’s two-year spell in the Premier League.

Alfie, a big Liverpool fan, had recently joined Kirkburton Junior Football Club under-5s and was excited to emulate his heroes from Anfield.

The Kirkburton club this week launched an online fundraising campaign to support the family and are planning a running event for all the youngsters to take part in.

In just three days, almost £5,000 has been raised including an anonymous donation of £2,000.

Organiser Dave Jowett, who coaches the under-10s and under-13s, said: “The response has been incredible. We’ve particularly had amazing support from the local football community and some clubs and coaches have made donations. There are some good people around.”

Alfie and dad Mark Fagan

The word is starting to spread and the club has enlisted the support of Huddersfield Town through ambassador Andy Booth, who has promised signed shirts and balls, and former Town promotion hero Elias Kachunga has also sent two signed Sheffield Wednesday shirts.

Dave added: “As a club we were devastated to hear the news and wanted to help Alfie and his family in any way we could.

“Alfie is currently undergoing treatment and is frequently in hospital with his parents Mark and Sarah and sister Emily by his side. Alfie has been struggling with the effects of the chemotherapy but is fighting this with everything he has and his family are super positive.”

Dave said he hoped the fundraiser would ease the financial burden on the family so they can focus on getting Alfie well again.

Youngsters across the age range – from under-5s to under-17s – will take part in a challenge to run the equivalent distance of Land’s End to John o’Groats – 874 miles. The event will take place at Kirkburton Middle School on June 12.

Kirkburton Junior Football Club is amazed at the support for its fundraiser

“As we’re still under restrictions we have to be very careful about large gatherings so we are keeping this reasonably low key,” said Dave. “In any other time we would have really gone for it.”

The club is also planning a “takeover” of the Huddersfield junior parkrun at Greenhead Park, where youngsters would take part wearing club colours.

To donate to the GoFundMe page CLICK HERE or for more information on the running event go to the club website HERE.