WHEN her friend Ava was at death’s doors after an emergency liver transplant was rejected by her body, causing total organ failure, Jessica was distraught.

But after a second transplant proved to be successful her companion made an unlikely recovery and now Jessica is determined to help out a charity that offers support to children with liver disease.

After being so moved by the plight of Ava, now 19 months and on the road to recovery, Jessica Farrow-Leonard, 8, has taken it upon herself to fundraise for the Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CDLF).

The Long Melford Primary School pupil came across the organisation’s Big Yellow Friday event after watching Eva, a family friend from Cardiff, fight back after being diagnosed with Biliary Atresia - a rare and life threatening liver disease.

Now she has organised a sponsored five mile walk and a head shave of her mum’s friend to raise funds for the charity who can help others in Eva’s position.

Libby Leonard, 30, Jessica’s mother, of Withindale Lane, Long Melford, said: “I think it is amazing. She is eight and eight-year-olds as a whole do not tend to do something that selfless and she has been inspired by Ava who was so brave - it is lovely.

“Myself and her step-dad Chris are so proud of her.”

Jessica, who has already raised �650 for the organisation, said: “Ava is the same age as my brother. What happened to Ava is very sad and she’s so lovely. I want to help her and other children.”

A sponsored walk with participants donning yellow wigs and t-shirts will take place from Long Melford Village Hall to Tesco in Sudbury and back on March 6. Then Jessica will shave mid-wife Amanda Turner’s hair off at the front of the Tesco store in Bury St Edmunds on March 13.

Anyone wishing to donate to Jesscia’s fundraising effort can do so by visiting her website: www.justgiving.com/jessica-farrow-leonard. She also has a Facebook group setup entitled ‘Jessica’s message’.

Big Yellow Friday takes place on March 5 this year. For more information on the CLDF visit www.childliverdisease.org or call 0121 212 3839.