A mum who lost her baby to cancer a year ago has spoken of her joy that she is pregnant again.

Sherston couple Kelly Pritchard, 34, and Darren Clark, 32, lost 18-month-old Alfie-Ray Clark last August five months after he was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer.

Miss Pritchard said: “We are coming up to his first angel anniversary. It is hard but we pick each other back up.”

She said it was unexpected but they are delighted that she is due to give birth in January.

“It was a shock. Because of what happened to Alfie we agreed we couldn’t go down that road again. But I am very happy now. We will find out in a couple of weeks if it’s little Alfie’s brother or sister,” she said.

Now Miss Pritchard is organising a fundraising event, to be held in Chippenham next month, for Families Against Neuroblastoma. She said she had never heard of the disease, a cancer of the neural crest cells, before her son was diagnosed. It affects fewer than 100 children in the UK each year.

She plans to hold a fun day on Sunday, September 15, the same day as the Chippenham Half Marathon, to give the partners and children of people running something to do. It runs from 10am-2pm and will feature an auction, raffle and face painting for children.

Miss Pritchard is asking for stallholders and entertainers who can help to get in touch.

She said: “By raising money for the cancer trusts, it would help parents that are going through the pain I suffered losing my son. Alfie was the happiest little boy, always into mischief. He loved baking with his mummy. If I was doing my cakes he’d be straight over to have a play.

“He loved the garden pond, which we still have. We’d say, ‘What do the fishes do?’ and he’d wiggle his belly. He loved going for a ride on the lawnmower with Daddy. And his favourite toy was Tigger; all through his time in hospital he always had Tigger.”

They already have 60 auction and raffle prizes including a Peter Andre photo to be personally signed to the highest bidder and two hours of KL driver training.

There is no booking fee for stallholders, who are asked to donate 20 per cent of profits. Call Miss Pritchard on 07824 514541. For an update on the venue, check www.alfie-ray-clark.co.uk. To donate, visit www.justgiving. com/kelly-pritchard5