THE parents of a five-year-old girl who is battling cancer have been given a ray of hope that their daughter may not have to undergo an agonising round of treatment.

Garry and Michelle Simpson, of RAF Leeming, near Bedale, North Yorkshire, met cancer consultants yesterday (Friday, June 21) to discuss options after doctors discovered there had only been two neuroblastoma tumour cases in the world similar to the one their daughter, Fraja has.

The Leeming RAF Primary School pupil had been due to start high-dose chemotherapy on Wednesday, but was sent home after doctors at Leeds General Infirmary concluded they would rather monitor her cancer cells as they may not grow.

After discussing Fraja’s tumour with specialists around the world, the medics said because it was not presenting like most forms of neuroblastoma, the risks of giving her a second, stronger round of highly toxic chemotherapy, such as developing a secondary cancer and infertililty, outweighed its benefits.

Mrs Simpson said: “I want to be happy, I want to jump up and shout out that everything is now going to be okay, but we can’t.

“We will continue just taking one day and a step forward at a time and keep hoping. We are petrified by this decision, but we believe in our specialist.

“If the cells in Fraja’s body grow, then she is classed as relapse, and her chances of recovery would be much lower, so that is the most frightening part of all.”

Mr Simpson said the £500,000 appeal to raise funds for Fraja to have treatment unavailable on the NHS to lower her chances of suffering a relapse would continue.

He thanked fundraisers and well-wishers for their support and said his family had been overwhelmed on learning nearly £60,000 has been raised since launching the appeal in March.

Recent boosts to the appeal have included the Buzzy Bees group from Consett raising £315 by holding a choral show, £300 from a shop at NATO’s headquarters, £1,000 sent in a shoe box by an anonymous donor and £1,100 from a charity cricket match in Bridlington.

Alongside people taking part in the Great North Run and a charity skydive for Fraja, the Dust Town Dogs will perform a fundraising show on July 5 at Shotley Cricket Club and 12 members of the RAF’s 90 Signals Unit will climb 14 3,000ft-plus peaks over two days next week.

To donate, visit facebook or send cheques to Fraja Ellie Appeal, RAF Leeming, Gatenby, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 9NJ.