Heidi Spencer is a long term friend of Staffordshire couple Martin and Rachel Owen, whose daughter Ruby was diagnosed with a brain tumour last May.

Ruby had an operation where 95 per cent of the tumour was removed and the remaining five per cent was later treated with chemotherapy but another tumour has returned. Conventional radiotherapy treatment could leave Ruby brain damaged and with learning difficulties later in life so her only hope now is Proton Treatment Therapy.

But the treatment is not available in the UK so Ruby's family and friends are desperately trying to raise the £250,000 needed to send her to America.

Heidi of Cavendish Fields, is having a stall in the Spring Gardens Shopping Centre this Saturday from 9am to support the fundraising drive.

She said: "As a mother, I find it heartbreaking what Rachel, Martin and Charlotte are going through let alone Ruby who is fighting this with tremendous courage and determination way beyond her two years of age.

"I find it very sad that her only chance has come down to money, a huge £250,000 to be precise.

"I just wish I had that sort of money to give but the reality is I don't so all I can do is try my hardest to help raise the funds and spread Ruby's story and hopefully get her appeal nationwide as time is running out."

Ruby's dad Martin added: "The last ten months have been a living hell. Ruby's bright times have been our bright times.

"A lot of people have done a lot of events and £45,000 has been raised online in four weeks which is absolutely phenomenal.

"For all the people we know who have helped we are very grateful but we are also very grateful for the complete strangers who are willing to put themselves out."

Ruby has had eight doses of chemotherapy and her next treatment will be a high dose of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant which will take between six and eight weeks for her to recover from. It is then hoped she will be able to have the treatment so there are only around ten weeks left to raise the money.

To support Ruby's appeal, you can donate online at www.justgiving.com/rubyowen or send a cheque, payable to Caudwell Children, to Ruby's Appeal, c/o Caudwell Children, Minton Hollins Building, Shelton Old Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 7RY.