A ten-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour earlier this year is preparing to fly out to the US for pioneering cancer treatment.

Parents Christine and Tere Bowers, both 51, of Wibsey, will accompany their youngest daughter Nicole, on the trip to the ProCure Proton Therapy Centre in Oklahoma City, where she will undergo proton therapy.

The therapy, which is not available in the UK, is more powerful and accurate than traditional radiotherapy and does not damage healthy tissue.

The NHS is paying for the family’s flights, accommodation and treatment, however the trip, which could last as long as 12 weeks, will cost the family about £5,000 to £7,000 in living costs.

Family and friends are rallying round to organise fundraising events and a special bank account has been set up to support Nicole.

Mrs Bowers said Nicole, a pupil at St Michael and All Angels Primary School in Shelf, began feeling unwell at the beginning of February. At first doctors thought she had a virus and then tonsillitis, but when she failed to respond to antibiotics, they suspected glandular fever and meningitis.

But when a GP found her left eye was not responding to light, she was taken immediately to the BRI on February 9.

She underwent two operations – to drain the fluid on her brain and remove as much of the tumour as possible. She then faced a month-long hospital stay learning how to walk, talk, sleep and eat again.

But surgeons were unable to remove all of the tumour. Her doctors in Leeds referred her case to the National Specialised Commissioning Team who agreed Nicole should have the proton therapy in America.

Mrs Bowers said: “We are relieved that it has been made available to us and Nicole won’t have to suffer the side effects of traditional radiotherapy. It should get rid of the remaining tumour.

“But it is daunting because there is so much to organise. We are grateful to family and friends who are helping.”

Fundraising events so far include: - on Sunday, May 13, Paul Gillard is running the Leeds half marathon, - on Monday, May 14, St Michael’s and All Angels School is holding sponsored events, - on Saturday, May 19, there is a spring fair at West Bowling Working Men’s Club from 1pm to 3.30pm - on Monday, May 21, there is a fun time from 5pm to 7pm at Geronimo’s indoor play area - there is a sponsored zumbathon at All Saints Catholic College in Huddersfield on June 10 - Dudley Hill U14s rugby league club is doing a sponsored bike ride from Shipley to Leeds.

Anyone can donate by going into any branch of the Yorkshire Bank and ask for the Support Nicole account – sort code 05-03-33, account number 30532247; or send cheques made payable to Support Nicole to Yorkshire Bank, 165 Toller Lane, BD8 9HW.