Bradford's former World Snooker Champion Joe Johnson has agreed to become patron of a charity set up to raise money for a terminally-ill little girl.

The snooker player agreed to become involved with the Holly Clarke Batten's Trust after attending a charity night and helping out with a raffle for four-year-old Holly at The Railway Social Club, Wakefield Road, Bradford.

The fundraising night, which was also attended by Bradford City player Lewis Emanuel and raised £3,200, is just one of a raft of events which have been organised across the district by friends and family of Shirelle and Darren Clarke, Holly's parents, and ten-year-old brother Daniel.

They set up the trust fund for Holly after she was diagnosed with the rare genetic illness, Batten's Disease, which means she cannot walk or talk, suffers failing eyesight and has the mental age of a baby.

There is no cure for the disease which they know will lead to an early death for their daughter. In a bid to make her quality of life as good as possible the family, of Derwent Road, Bradford, set up a trust fund which has now raised £12,000 in only eight weeks.

Events have included a sponsored walk organised by Daniel in Peel Park which raised £752, a sponsored walk at the Richard Dunn Centre by a visually impaired group, a karaoke night at the Railway which raised £2,741, a ladies' night at Lilycroft WMC, sponsored disco dancing, an old time music hall evening and a clairvoyant evening, organised by spiritual medium Eddie Peace.

The family have also had smaller donations from far and wide and help from the community, including from 82-year-old Bradford woman Betty Allsop who sold £400 of raffle tickets.

The Railway Social Club, owned by the Duffy brothers have given their club for free and other local firms have also rallied to the cause.

Colourstyle, of Moorfield Road, Leeds, have printed T-shirts for free to publicise the cause and Unique Limousine, of Bradford, organised a luxury car to take Holly to her fundraising charity night in style.

Events coming up in the future include a sponsored swim by Bradford Dolphins swimming club, a Holly's Day gala to be held on September 12 in Holme Wood, organised by Gareth Crosland, a health development worker at Highfield Health Centre, Proctor Street, Bradford, an auction at Fairweather Green WMC, a karate-thon by Jimmy Kirk and a sponsored pub crawl on August 30 in Bradford.

Anne Clarke, Holly's grandmother who contacted Mr Johnson to get him involved, said: "He rang me personally to say he would help. I was shocked.

"On the night he and Lewis Emanuel both signed autographs. It was such an unbelievable evening.

"We have been really overwhelmed by everyone's generosity."

Fundraising volunteers can call Shirelle and Darren on (01274) 636995 or Gareth Crosland on (01274) 321903 or 07761 903339. Donors can send a cheque made payable to the Holly Clarke Batten's Trust, c/o Gareth Crosland, Highfield Health Centre, 2, Proctor Street, Tong Street, Bradford, BD4 9QA.