Not many would have believed that in just 11 months over half a million pounds would be raised to save a little girl's life.

Ruby Young captured the hearts of people not only in Medway, but across the country.

Today, family and friends smashed the £500,000 target, which is needed to pay for cancer treatment in America that the NHS does not offer.

Thanks to people's unwavering support and the monumental efforts of family friend Anita Marinelli, the last £25,000 was collected overnight and this morning, with a huge last push.

A massive 85,000 people shared the Facebook group 'Donate £1 to help Ruby Smash £500,000 today!' and the money came flooding in.

Ruby, from Rainham, is currently undergoing her highest dose of chemotherapy yet which is making her extremely ill.

But after that, her parents Vikki and Rob plans are to spend £100,000 of the total on a new trial to help kick the disease for good.

Even if Ruby responds well to that, there is still an 80% chance of relapse with the aggressive cancer neuroblastoma, so the rest will be kept in trust - as it is likely she will need it within the next five years.

Anita said this morning: "I am shell-shocked we have achieved this. It just goes to show that anything is possible.

"Ruby has a fighting chance now. Whether she beats this is down to her own strength, but I made Vicki a promise that Ruby's life would not be decided by money, and now it won't be.

"The support has been overwhelming from the start and I've been on a mission to get this done. We're all so grateful for what everybody has done to help, you've all given this little girl the chance she deserves."

The total now stands at £504,000. More fundraising events are still planned throughout the year in Ruby's name and depending on the level of future treatment she needs, will either be used by her or to save another very sick child.

See Monday's Medway Messenger for the full story.

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