SABATTUS — Michael Jackson used more than words to answer letters from friends of an 8-year-old Sabattus girl suffering from a rare intestinal disease.

After local school children wrote Jackson asking for his help, the entertainer sent Mallory Cyr a check for an undisclosed amount and promised to give her a call.

“I am sending you all my loving and caring, Mallory, along with the enclosed gift, which I hope will help nourish you and keep you strong,” he told the girl in his letter.

“I know I promised to call you and I will … I have been very busy recording in the studio, but please know I will try very soon.”

The girl’s mother, Anna Cyr, said both she and her daughter were looking forward to hearing from Jackson.

“We went to the bookstore and library, but there was no biography about Michael Jackson,” the mother said. “But there was a book of poetry and stories about children written by Michael which Mallory loved. We are very excited to receive Michael’s phone call.

Mallory suffers from microvillus inclusion and must receive regular intravenous feedings.

A fund to help pay for Mallory’s treatments and enable her family to finance a van was established. Bonnie Goyette, who helped to set up the fund, said one of the girl’s schoolmates suggested contacting Jackson after seeing him on television with Oprah Winfrey.

“Michael does a lot for children and he looks out for the future,” Goyette said. “He is a truly wonderful guy.”

Children at the Sabattus Elementary School mailed Jackson about 200 letters in April.

In his response, Jackson wrote: “Often times we are faced with very big challenges, but I know you are strong and that your special gift is in sharing your sweet love and courage with all of your family members and loving friends.”

Goyette, who is Mallory’s teacher’s aide, said the fund had raised about $20,000, with about half generated by raffles, a carnival and other events. Organizers also sold pins identifying the wearer as one of “Mal’s pals.”

“I think everybody in this town has one,” said Goyette.