A LITTLE girl who loves to dance needs to raise more than £350,000 to fund a potentially lifesaving cancer vaccine.

Charlotte "Charlie" Watson, 4, is undergoing gruelling treatment for stage four neuroblastoma, a rare disease affecting around 100 UK children each year.

Her family, who live in Portslade, were hit with heartbreaking news in December last year when she was diagnosed with the potentially fatal cancer just days before Christmas.

The Argus: Charlie with her mum and her sister PollyCharlie with her mum and her sister Polly

Her treatment so far has included chemotherapy and stem cell replacement and she is soon to begin a course of radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

But her mother Angela West knows there is a high chance the cancer could return in the future, leaving her with a less than 10 per cent chance of survival.

Charlie's family and friends have been desperately trying to raise enough money to take her to New York for a potentially life-saving vaccine that could stop the cancer coming back.

But the exciting treatment comes with a hefty price tag.

The Argus: Charlie's treatment so far has included chemotherapy and stem cell replacementCharlie's treatment so far has included chemotherapy and stem cell replacement

So far, the family has raised around £4,000 against a target of £350,000.

Angela says it is “horrible” to see her daughter go from “practicing ballet and doing roly polys everyday” to barely being able to keep her eyes open through dinner.

She told The Argus: “She started school for the first time this week and it’s so nice to have some normality for us and she can be just like other kids again.

“Doctors say that the treatment Charlie is getting, an adult would struggle to cope with.

The Argus: Charlie's family and friends have been desperately trying to raise enough money to take her to New York Charlie's family and friends have been desperately trying to raise enough money to take her to New York

“It’s been really intense and rapid. Luckily, the kids keep their whole personality through it all and that’s what keeps you going.

“But she’s so skinny and she’s lost all this weight, her hair has come out and she’s got a tube, so she looks so ill.

“Wherever we go kids look at her, but I don’t think she ever notices.”

When Charlie was struggling to walk last year, and complaining of pains in her back, neck and toes, doctors initially thought she was suffering from growing pains.

But after a visit to A&E, scans eventually showed a mass near her adrenal gland and biopsies confirmed it was Nueroblastoma.

Charlie, who has a sister, Polly, 8, was then referred to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London to begin her treatment.

Angela said all the donations to Charlie’s fundraiser so far have been “overwhelming” and she has been “amazed” by the support she has received.

She said: “The money we have raised so far is just from friends sharing the fundraiser.

“Sometimes the target can feel out of reach but we’ve got to give it a go.”

To donate to Charlie’s fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/f/help-charlotte-receive-life-saving-treatment

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