MARTIAL arts enthusiasts have got a kick out of helping a young girl battle leukaemia.

More than 70 people descended on Swindon Martial Arts and Fitness on Sunday aiming to deliver 50,000 kicks for Keira in an hour.

The kickboxers were raising money to help 12-year-old Keira Dancey, who was diagnosed with the cancer after falling seriously ill two weeks before Christmas.

And they smashed their target, landing a total of 68,000 kicks and raised £680.

Coach and founder Jason O’Grady said: “We had an amazing turnout, we’re really pleased.”

He admitted he had been a little nervous about whether they would manage to meet their target. “We wanted it to be hard and we thought we would struggle to do 50,000 kicks.”

At one point he thought he would be pleased if they passed 20,000. “But over 70 people turned up, which we were not expecting.”

It allowed them to cruise past the target with time to spare. “We got to the target and still had 10 minutes left,” he said.

So they carried on almost reaching touching distance of 70,000 before the hour was up.

All ages were on the mat, from a tiny three-year-old who managed 100 kicks to people in their 40s and 50s.

He was planning to visit Keira in Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital today to tell her the good news.

“Keira has been with us for many years since she was five,” he said.

“She was one of the first black belts we have had and she is very well known in the club. Her family have all trained here off and on for years. Keira is part of the furniture at the gym.”

He said a lot of the children had been shocked and upset to hear of the youngster’s condition and were keen to help her and her family. “We just want try and support them as much as we can.”

He described Keira as a tough cookie, but spoke of the toll her illness and the treatment had taken.

“I went to see her two weeks ago and she didn’t know who I was, which was a bit upsetting.”

But her condition had improved since then. It was thought that her physical fitness had helped her.

Keira was rushed to the Great Western Hospital on December 16 and transferred to the Teenage Cancer Trust Ward in Bristol where a blood clot was discovered in her brain. Following a major operation to remove it, her parents Emma and Geoff were told she would not be able to talk and would lose all feeling down her right side.

But she defied the medics and was soon walking and talking again. However she is having to undergo chemotherapy and Emma is having to take time off work to stay with her in the hospital.Money from the fundraising effort, so far totalling more than £1,600, will be divided between supporting her family and a charity of her choice.