A JustGiving campaign launched this week to raise £60,000 for a local toddler’s brave battle against rare childhood cancer.

Eliza Donnelly, of Cilgwyn Newport, Pembrokeshire, who has just celebrated her second birthday, was diagnosed in July with Stage 4 of the rare and aggressive children's cancer, neuroblastoma.

The cancer, which only affects about 100 children per year in the UK, was discovered in a large tumour in Eliza’s abdomen, and has spread to her lymph nodes and bones. Eliza began treatment straightaway in Cardiff’s Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital.

Her parents, Robin and Maya Donnelly, plus her wider family and community were rocked by the news.

Eliza’s father Robin explained, “When we first came into hospital she was in a serious condition and in severe pain arching her back to stop the tumour pushing against her organs, it was horrific.

“My heart was broken into a thousand pieces and I spent the first few weeks desperately trying to make a plan to fix Eliza in between completely falling apart.”

While Eliza is responding well so far to an intense programme of chemotherapy, the outlook is still unclear. Her family have thrown themselves into researching complementary therapy that can give Eliza the best chances of survival.

“The more I researched the more I came to realise that even cancer as advanced as this can be treated,” explained Robin. “Her young age is on her side and if we can give her a helping hand at every stage of her treatment with dietary supplements and complementary treatments, she has a better chance of surviving.”

Additional treatment will include travel to the renowned Hufeland Clinic, Germany, for immune system rebuild after chemotherapy; plus a tailored plan of specially developed dietary supplements and food, some of which need to be imported from the US.

With the complementary treatment totalling an estimated £60,000 over two years, friends of the family launched the fundraising campaign, through popular online platform JustGiving. The fund had raised nearly £8,000 from over 250 supporters within 48 hours. Any excess funds will go to other children with the same disease.

“The battle is by no means won and we have a long road ahead. This cancer is extremely difficult to clear and deadly relapses are common,” explained Robin, “ at which point we may have to seek more intensive chemotherapy and immunotherapy outside of the UK which would cost nearer £250,000.”

“But we have hope, and are so grateful for the support received so far. And with Eliza's amazingly positive character, she has made huge strides already, so we feel we are on the right track.”

To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Help-Eliza.