A KIND-hearted landlord is to help improve the life of a young cancer victim – with a 24-hour darts marathon.

Evie Northing (3) suffers from the rare aggressive condition called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis and has only three chemotherapy sessions left before doctors take a "wait and see" approach.

So fundraiser Andrew Neall is teaming up with 14 of his customers to raise money to buy Evie a playhouse and to make her family's life a little easier.

Local resident David Mott is taking part in his third darts marathon at the Wagon and Horses in Branston, near Lincoln.

"I thought we might struggle for sponsorship this year with the current climate but people have come through," he said.

"We got £1,200 last year and fingers crossed we'll get more than that this time."

Publican Mr Neall was similarly optimistic.

"I think we're on for over £2,000," he said.

"Everybody had to get at least £100 sponsorship to take part but we've got one person with £330, so I don't know how much we'll end up with."

Evie's mum Hayley Northing said she was "totally overwhelmed" when her family was approached about becoming the beneficiary of the event.

"I can't put it into words really," she said.

"I never really thought anyone would do this for our family.

"I've been doing charity work and I know how difficult it is and for someone to offer, we're really touched by it.

"It's nice to show what a community can do when they come together."

Previous fundraising efforts at the Wagon and Horses have seen over £1,700 given to Childline.

And in 2003 almost £3,500 was raised in a week to support young cancer sufferer Molly Taylor, from Washingborough.

In the past 14 months Mr Neall and his customers have also raised up to £5,000 for the Lives first responders, many of whom play darts in the Wagon and Horses.

The marathon starts at 4pm today and runs until 4pm tomorrow, with everyone welcome to go along and show support.

A coffee morning in the pub, to raise money for Lives first responders, is set to run alongside the darts tomorrow morning.