FRIENDS and family members of a seven-year-old girl who has a life-threatening form of cancer are trying to raise £300,000 so she can receive critical treatment in America.

Robyn Higgins, who used to live in Willow Grove, Ruislip, before moving to Surrey last year, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in May.

The tumour was growing from her pelvis and had spread to her bone marrow.

It is a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer and if she does not receive the treatment she needs her chance of survival stands at only 40 per cent.

Her father, Greg Higgins, 38, said: "So far she has endured eight doses of chemotherapy, injections requiring intravenous antibiotics, blood/platelet transfusions, stem cell harvests and bone marrow aspirates.

"At the beginning of September she underwent a nine hour operation to remove a tumour in her pelvis which had wrapped itself around various nerves within her pelvis and spine. This has since caused her repetitive pain in her right leg and she is currently unable to walk.

"In October she was admitted to the Royal Marsden Hospital where she received a high dose of chemotherapy to 'wipe out' her bone marrow. She then had previously harvested stem cells given back to her to assist her bone marrow in its recovery. This has left her extremely ill and in hospital for another month at least.

"We have now found a hospital in New York called the Sloane Kettering Memorial which has pioneered a new treatment using anti-body therapy which has been very successful. This treatment is not available in the UK, and is not likely to be anytime soon."

The family only have until the new year to raise the money because Robyn needs the treatment within 90 to 100 days of having the stem cell transplant.

Her family and friends from all over Ruislip and Surrey, including her former school - Sacred Heart, in Herlwyn Avenue - are now desperately trying to raise the money.

Mrs Higgins said: "People are trying so hard to raise the money and we are also now being supported by a charity called The 2Simple Trust, which helps families and children affected by neuroblastoma.

"We've still got an awful lot of fundraising to do on our own though."

The family will have a stall at the Christmas Fun Day in Victoria, Road, Ruislip Manor, on Saturday (14).

To find out more or donate call Mrs Higgins on 07862 702283 or go to www.robynhiggins.com or www.justgiving.com/robyn-appeal