A DAD has issued an urgent appeal for help to save the life of his young daughter who is fighting an aggressive and rare cancer.

Little Rebecca McKenna is currently battling her way through treatment against stage-four, high risk neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma affects around 100 children each year in the UK and has the highest mortality rate of any children’s cancer.

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Now her parents want to raise funds to send the three-year-old to America for treatment.

Even though Rebecca is receiving “very intense” treatment at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, her family have learnt the chance of her relapsing within two years is as high as 80 per cent.

Mum Victoria and dad Chris, from Erskine, have since discovered a drug trial in America which could decrease Rebecca’s chance of relapse and the cancer returning.

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Unfortunately, with the treatment not yet available on the NHS, the anxious parents have turned to the public for help in raising £140,000 to pay for treatment and other costs.

Chris, 37, described how Rebecca first fell ill mid-January after complaining of pain in her left leg and of an inflamed ear.

While the ear cleared up after a visit to the doctor, the issues with her leg continued. Days later, Chris asked Rebecca to run to him when he noticed a limp. Hours later, she couldn’t walk.

After rushing her to the GP, they were referred to the hospital for a series of tests. After three weeks, doctors came up with a diagnosis for her.

Chris said: “Our worst nightmare became reality. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. We were so shocked, it was like we were in a dream.”

By the time of her diagnosis, Rebecca’s primary tumours were in her tummy and in her adrenal glands just above her kidneys.

The disease then spread to her bone marrow and finally her bones.

She has had chemotherapy sessions but has fallen ill so is currently in hospital receiving antibiotics and other medicines.

Chris added: “The treatment she is on is very intense, given over a 12 to 18-month period.

“Rebecca is currently receiving 90 days of rapid COJEC chemotherapy. After that, she will have surgery to remove the main tumour followed by another round of high-dose chemo, a stem cell transplant and, finally, three weeks of radiotherapy.

“Even after putting her through chemo, countless surgeries and aggressive radiotherapy, the chance of relapse within two years is still high.”

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Mum Victoria, 33, relentlessly studied other options to save her daughter’s life when she came across an drug trial called DFMO in Michigan.

Chris said: “My wife made contact with other families in Scotland who have gone through the same trial. None of them have relapsed. In one case, a two-year-old who went through the trial is getting on with life at ten.

“If we didn’t take this option, we’d regret it.”

Even though she’s battling an aggressive disease, Chris said many wouldn’t even know Rebecca had cancer.

“She loves singing and dances when the nurses aren’t around,” he said. “She’s shy when the other kids are in, though. If it wasn’t for the fact she has no hair and was hooked up to machines, you wouldn’t even know she was sick.”

Rebecca misses her pals at Bright Stars nursery in Inchinnan and said the little ones there, along with staff, always send their best.

In one final plea to Evening Times readers, Chris said: “We all know someone affected by cancer. You would do anything you could to make them well again and we are no different.

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“This isn’t the first time cancer has devastated our family and, while we know the loss and pain it can bring, we won’t let it win this time.

“We need any donation, no matter how big or small, to help get Rebecca well again and back to being the bravest little girl we know.

“With your help, you could end up saving a wee girl’s life.”

In just two days, the family has managed to raise £15,000.

If you’d like to donate, visit the JustGiving page here.

Also follow “Raise for Rebecca” on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for regular updates and to follow Rebecca’s journey.