mmg.com.au

The Shepparton community is rallying in support of Numurkah boy Samuel Altoft, who is fighting a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

Shepparton police will hold a barbecue to raise money for Samuel in Maude St Mall on Tuesday next week.

On Thursday, The News ran a story on 16-month-old Samuel, who is fighting anaplastic ependymoma, which causes tumours to grow on the brain and spinal cord.

Samuel has just finished his second round of chemotherapy after having a large tumour removed from the back of his brain.

Shepparton police Senior Constable Michelle Davis said officers at the station had read Samuel’s story and wanted to help out with fundraising.

‘‘It hit home and we thought, what a great way to show support,’’ she said.

‘‘We just thought it would be great to give something back to the community. He’s only a baby, he doesn’t deserve this.’’

Fairleys Supa IGA store manager Craig Bramley has donated sausages and all the bread for the barbecue, while Chook World’s Paul Simm has also donated sausages.

Greater Shepparton City Council has also donated the use of a barbecue for the event. Sausages will cost $2 and there will also be donation tins for people who would like to donate without purchasing a sausage.

‘‘All the money raised will go straight to (Samuel) and the family,’’ Sen Const Davis said.

The barbecue fundraiser will be from 10.30am until about 2pm on Tuesday in the centre of Maude St Mall.