Staff at Marks & Spencer in Wokingham have raised hundreds of pounds for an 18-week-old baby with a life threatening illness.

Oliver Cameron has a rare heart tumour, one that the NHS in England are unable to treat, meaning he requires treatment in Boston, Massachusetts. 

Whilst treatment in the UK would be cheap, to fly out to the US and pay for the treatment, Oliver's family will have to raise nearly £200,000 to pay for the treatment at Boston Children's Hospital, which has a 100% success rate at the treatment. 

Sam Plumby, store manager at Marks & Spencer Wokingham, decided she wanted to try to help in any way possible, a belief shared by her staff.

Mrs Plumby set up a static bike ride from Wokingham to Land's end, with staff taking turns on the bike until they had reached their mileage goal. 

Mrs Plumby said: "The charity bike ride last week was to raise money for a little baby called Oliver, his mother, Lydia, used to work at Marks and Spencer in Lower Earley as a part time sales assistant, they've only recently moved out of the area.

"We felt as a store, as they were local in the community that we wanted to raise some money for Oliver. 

"Why wouldn't you? A little boy, local, life saving operation, they need £200,000 to take him to Boston for this operation, I've got family, a young boy, I just thought 'this is what's important' 

"Personally it hit myself and then the store were really up for doing something and getting our customers involved, and they all love raising money for certain charities, so it felt like the right thing to do. 

"We managed to raise £621 in store with the bike, cycling from Wokingham to Land's end, the staff all got on the bike for half an hour or an hour each, then customers were just donating money. 

"The staff were really up for it, I've got 55 staff at Wokingham, pretty much everyone got involved in one way shape or form, whether that was holding the buckets, riding the bike, sorting out the refreshments for the staff getting on the bike.

"People care, it's a life saving operation, and why wouldn't you give an 18 week old baby boy the chance to live?" 

Staff at M&S were lucky enough to meet Oliver, a gentle, yet welcome reminder of where their money was going.

"Tim, Oliver's dad, came in with the baby this week to say thank you, we were all very keen to meet Oliver, and Oliver came round and met all the boys and girls in the shop which was lovely, we're in contact with her around getting the money to them, and also saying if there's anything else we can do, keep us posted."

Following the success of the bike ride, Mrs Plumby is now organising a pub quiz and raffle at the Wheatsheaf & Pigeon on Saturday July 8. 

If you'd like to donate to Oliver's campaign, you can do so here: www.gofundme.com/oliversheartsurgery