DONATIONS have been pouring in over the past week to help a six-year-old girl with a terminal brain tumour.

Thousands of people have donated almost £80,000 towards Lily Mckelvey’s online fundraiser since it launched just eight days ago.

Lily, who lives in Marks Tey with her parents Elizabeth and Jack, was diagnosed with an extremely rare tumour which grows in the stem of the brain on January 12.

The youngster’s condition - known as diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) - is diagnosed in as few as 20 children in the UK each year.

Doctors explained to Jack and Elizabeth Lily’s life expectancy is between six to nine months.

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Happy - Lily dressed up as a cat last year

Lily is undergoing radiotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, as a form of palliative care.

But Lily’s parents are determined to give her a longer life and they discovered there are treatments available after radiotherapy in America for DIPG.

Doctors have told Elizabeth and Jack Lily may be able to travel there for treatment after her radiotherapy, but it will cost in the region of £370,000.

So the couple, both 31, launched a fundraising page which 2,400 people have donated money to.

A statement from Jack and Elizabeth said: “We would like to say how incredibly thankful we are to everyone who is donating and sharing.”

However, a significant amount more is needed to reach the target.

To help with the family’s fundraising efforts, Joan Mitchell is organising a virtual raffle with her nieces.

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Proud - Lily Mckelvey, six, pictured at Christmas, before her diagnosis with a terminal brain tumour. She is holding a picture of her baby brother, who is due in the summer

Mrs Mitchell, of Berechurch Road, Colchester, and her nieces are now in the process of organising a raffle to help raise vital funds for Lily’s treatment.

“She still has a long way to go before the fundraising target is met,” Mrs Mitchell added.

“So far we have collected a variety of items for a raffle.

“If anyone has any unwanted new items we are willing to collect them and would be grateful as the more items we get the better the raffle will be.”

So far Mrs Mitchell and her nieces have collected prizes including gin, chocolates, an afternoon tea voucher, a Tesco voucher, a beauty set and a year’s free pass to Jimmy’s Farm, in Suffolk,

Mrs Mitchell is still approaching local businesses to see if they are able to offer vouchers or items.

A date for the virtual raffle will be set in the coming weeks.

To donate to the GoFundMe page or find out more, visit bit.ly/2NsH0gd.