The parents of eight-year-old Chelmsford girl Holly Crisp have launched an urgent appeal to raise £100,000 to save her life.

Ray Crisp and Kathy Lakin, who call her their little lionheart girl, are desperate to raise the funds to pay for specialist surgery in America on her second brain tumour.

The surgery is not available in Britain.

Mr Crisp said that surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, where Holly is being treated, have said that her tumour cannot be completely removed and that there are very few surgeons worldwide who would even attempt the procedure.

"Holly is our little lionheart girl and we will not give up hope," said Mr Crisp. "When she first became ill, she was given zero per cent chance of recovery but, against all odds, she did survive. That was when we gave her the nickname."

Holly underwent brain surgery in January last year on her first brain tumour, and has since endured 15 operations.

Her parents became aware of Dr Patrick Kelly at the New York University Medical Centre, when Mr Crisp was researching Holly's condition on the internet.

He said that Dr Kelly used a different system to treat brain tumours, known as minimally invasive volumetric surgery.

Mr Crisp is now appealing for help to fund the £100,000 trip -- including surgery, aftercare, accommodation and flights -- which he believes could save his daughter's life.

"We will pursue whatever it takes to cure our little girl," he said. "She has been so brave and undemanding throughout this horrific episode in her young life."

Donations can be made to the Holly Crisp account at Abbey National, in Chelmsford.

Holly and her parents.

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