UK

More than £1.3 million raised by Charlie Gard's parents for therapy in the US

 The couple launched an appeal on a GoFundMe website four months ago, saying they needed £1.2 million.
 The couple launched an appeal on a GoFundMe website four months ago, saying they needed £1.2 million.  The couple launched an appeal on a GoFundMe website four months ago, saying they needed £1.2 million.

Charlie Gard's parents have raised more than £1.3 million to pay for therapy in America.

The couple launched an appeal on a GoFundMe website four months ago, saying they needed £1.2 million.

They reached their target shortly before a High Court trial began in April and more than 83,000 people have donated money.

Charlie's mother, Connie Yates, has already indicated - on the GoFundMe website - what will happen to money raised if they cannot take him to the US and life support treatment ends.

"A few people have asked us what we'll do if we don't win the court case," she has said.

"We have thought long and hard about it and we would set up a charity for mitochondrial depletion syndromes (there are others that are more common than Charlie's specific gene).

"We'd like to save other babies and children because these medications have been proven to work and we honestly have so much belief in them.

"If Charlie doesn't get this chance we will make sure that other innocent babies and children will be saved.

"We would like some of it to go to research at the specific hospital that are willing to treat Charlie and the rest will be available to help other families to get the medication that their children desperately need.

"We hope that you can all support us in making treatments available so that nobody else ever has to go through what we have."

She has thanked "everyone who has supported us", said their faith in humanity had been restored and added: "We will always be eternally grateful whatever the outcome for Charlie."

A statement on the GoFundMe website said a 5% fee was taken from each donation.

"While it is free to create and share your online fundraising campaign, GoFundMe will deduct a 5% fee from each donation that you receive," says the statement.

"Since our fee is deducted automatically, you will never need to worry about being billed or owing us any money.

"A small processing fee of about 3% will also be deducted from each donation."

A GoFundMe spokesman says officials will have discussions with Charlie's parents about what will happen to money raised if life-support treatment is withdrawn.