Former World Darts Champion John "Boy" Walton is supporting a

19-month-old girl with a life-threatening brain tumour by holding a special darts match.

Little Hannah Hayton's cancerous tumour was diagnosed after mum Jenny Ratcliffe took her to hospital suffering from lethargy and loss of appetite.

Doctors found the two-inch tumour, which was wrapped around the brain stem, and carried out an emergency

12-hour operation to remove most of the growth and excess fluid.

And specialists said if the tumour was left any longer Hannah, from Odsal, would have died within days.

Now friends and family have organised a fundraising night at Laisterdyke Cricket Club, in Broad Lane, on Friday, from 7pm to support Hannah and her family.

Former champion Bradford-born John "Boy", who started playing darts at the club and is a member, is challenging people to play him at £1 a game.

"I go back a long way with the club and used to play with Hannah's grandad Steve Hayton, so I'm happy to do all I can to help him and little Hannah," he said. "It's not the winning that matters, we just want as many people as possible to come along and raise as much as we can for her."

Snooker player Wayne Cooper will be urging guests to pay £1 to play against him. There will also be a raffle and sponsored head and leg shaves.

Money raised will help pay for transport to and from hospital for Hannah's vital treatment.

Hannah, who has a twin sister Lucy, has to undergo intensive chemotherapy every two weeks for the next 15 months.

And specialists have warned the family her chance of survival is just 50-50.

Her mum Jenny Ratcliffe said within weeks of getting to grips with the shocking news about the toddler's tumour she had to say goodbye to her mother Tina Ratcliffe, 45, who lost her long fight against cancer.

"It's not been an easy time but somehow we've kept going, we have to," said the 25-year-old.

Hannah's dad Lee Hayton, 25, has given up his job as a labourer to look after his family. He said he would not be able to hold down a full-time job because of the frequent visits to St James's Hospital in Leeds.

"We were preparing for life without Tina when we found out about Hannah and our whole lives have been turned upside down," he said.

"Hannah was born with the tumour but it was only when she had a brain scan that it was discovered - and just in time. There was so much fluid on her brain that 750ml was drained off in the first 24 hours.

"The doctors said the operation could have left her partially paralysed or blind but luckily that wasn't the case.

"Now we just have to take each day as it comes.

"Her immune system is very low and if she catches anything she needs a course of antibiotics so she's as well as can be for her chemotherapy."

Hannah and Lucy picked up the usual viruses and colds as babies but it was only when Hannah stopped eating and became very drowsy in October last year that her mum became concerned.

Her mum took her to Bradford Royal Infirmary's accident and emergency department and after a scan was rushed to Leeds General Infirmary for the operation.

"She'd also had a fit and hit her head on the cot and she had a massive bruise on her forehead," said Lee. "We thought at first she might have concussion but the scan revealed the tumour."

Since her operation the tot has developed problems with her lungs and has to be fed a high-vitamin liquid via a tube through her nose through the night.