Three legs of the law help Ethan

11:58am Thursday 6th September 2007

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THE boys in blue patrolled a very different beat in a bid to go the distance for Ethan's Journey.

A team of officers based at Arpley Street police station ditched their normal duties to run a three-legged charity race for little Ethan Connolly, who has a lymphatic malformation that has left him with cysts along his jawline.

The energetic race raised £350 for Ethan's Journey, the Warrington Guardian's campaign to pay for specialist surgery to remove the cysts.

The challenge was full of twists and turns after being held at the Amazing Maize Maze in Stretton on Friday.

Ethan, accompanied by his mum Karen Bell, of Well Lane, Penketh, cheered on the officers from the sidelines.

Karen said: "It was a brilliant day.

"At first Ethan was a bit overwhelmed by all the police but he enjoyed it.

"It's just amazing that all this money has been raised to help him."

So far, Ethan's Journey has raised more than £31,000 for the youngster and has already enabled him to fly to Germany to undergo his first operation.

Next month the four-year-old will have surgery at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool followed by further operations in Germany and New York.

Community Support Officer Stacy Ryley said: "After watching a story on the news and reading several articles about Ethan, I thought it would be a good idea to do something to help raise some money "We also thought it would be a good team-building exercise."

To make a donation, send cash or a cheque to the Warrington Guardian, marked Ethan's Journey.

For the latest on fundraisers for the youngster go to warringtonguardian.co.uk.