A Workington family is over the moon with the response that they have received from the community.

The appeal to raise funds for five-year-old Emily Shutt, who is fighting cancer for the third time, was published in the Times & Star.

Emily, of Railbank Drive, was diagnosed with leukaemia at the age of two. The family had began to relax 11 months after a bone marrow transplant from Emily's seven-year-old brother Alfie, when she fell ill again for the third time.

Her grandfather Barrie appealed for people to come forward and help raise funds for the family to support the costs  for a medical trial at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital in January, which they're hoping she will qualify for.

Barrie said: "I am over the moon with the response. A lot of people contacted me to say they want to help.

"It is important that we raise this money because this is the third time that Emily is fighting cancer.

"If she gets into Great Ormond Street, it's going to be costly for everyone running up and down and it could be a long term trial, we don't have much detail yet. 

"We need to start raising money, because if that fails, we're looking at getting treatment in America and everyone knows how much that would cost."

An online crowdfunding page aiming to raise £5,000 for the cause has been set up by Nichelle Gibbons, of Workington.

On the page, she said: "I have known Emily since she was a baby, she is such an inspirational little girl. When I first heard her story I was heart broken. I have four children of my own I can't bare to think what the family have been through in the last 3 years."

Lesley Fulton, 36, of Main Street, Dearham, has pledged to do a sponsored skydive to raise money for Emily.

Lesley is married to Tony, 39 and has five children, Darcey, 13, James, nine, twins Ebony and Luke, seven and Indie, two.

She said: "I'm afraid of heights so I don't know if I'm brave or crazy. I read the article in the Times & Star and I didn't know she had a relapse.

"Having children, you can just imagine how hard it can be with all the treatment and not being able to work. We can't do anything medically but financially we can and it's not such a hard thing to do. 

"My daughter Indie was in the children's unit for two and a half weeks for a heart problem. We were lucky because she recovered well and now we only have to go once a year. I can imagine how hard it is for Emily's parents.

"My husband and my kids think I'm mad, but I think that Emily is such an inspirational little girl."

Lesley is planning to do the skydive with two friends.

Meanwhile Simone Hetherington, who runs Imagination Parties, Dearham, will host two events in November for the cause.

A wild-west theme party is due to be held at Workington's Royal British Legion and a murder mystery night at the town's Helena Thompson Museum.

Other events will be held at Egremont's Conservative Club and Whitehaven Rugby League Football Club.

Barrie said: "I'd just like to thank everyone who has donated and offered to raise funds so far. I would like to encourage anyone else who would like to help to come forward, the more the merrier."

If you are interested in fund-raising for Emily, email Barrie at barrieshutt@aol.com.