The family of a toddler with a fatal ageing condition has sent out a big thank you to The Argus and our readers for their generosity.

Three-year-old Ashanti White stole the hearts of people across Sussex, when it was reported that her body was ageing eight times faster than normal.

Her family appealed for help to find a cure for the rare disease, which means she is unlikely to live beyond 13.

Calls flooded in to The Argus from people wanting to donate money to the Progeria Research Foundation in the US and to Ashanti's family.

They wanted to help make Ashanti's life as full as possible by taking her on her dream holiday to swim with dolphins.

So far the family have received more than £3,000, some of which will go towards research and some towards the holiday.

Ashanti's mother Phoebe Smith, 21, of Denham Road, Burgess Hill, said: "I just want to say how grateful we are to everyone who has donated. I can't believe how generous people have been.

"Ashanti has always wanted to swim with dolphins. She talks about it all the time.

"Just before we go on the holiday we will split the money and half will go to the Progeria Research Foundation."

Ashanti lives with her mother, her father Wayne White, 36, and her five-month-old baby sister Brandilouise.

The family are hoping to raise enough money to fund research to help find a cure for the disease.

Among those who raised money were residents of the Triangle social club at Leach Court, Park Street, Brighton, who raised £226.70 with a coffee morning.

Club chairman John Stevens said: "Everyone dug deep and donated as much as they could. It was a great morning."

Three members of a family each raised hundreds of pounds for Ashanti without realising what the others were doing. Sarah Butler held a fundraising day at Withdean Sports Complex, Brighton, where she is a customer advisor and her sister Gemma Butler, manager of the Anchor Trust retirement home, Vernon Court, Brighton, held a coffee morning.

Their cousin Hannah Funnell, 16, had also seen the article about the toddler in The Argus and decided to set up a non-uniform day at her school Patcham High in Brighton. Between them they raised nearly £2,000.

By the time Ashanti is ten, her body will have the appearance of an 80-year-old and she will have symptoms including baldness, arthritis and heart problems. There are about 40 known cases of progeria worldwide and only four in the UK, including eight-year-old Hayley Okines, from Bexhill.

If you would like to make a donation to help Ashanti or the Progeria Research Foundation, call The Argus on 01273 544514 or visit www.progeriaresearch.org .