The aunt of an eight-year-old girl who was diagnosed with a benign brain tumour following an eye test is doing a charity fundraiser after realising how underfunded research is.

Scarlet Scorgie is taking part in Brain Tumour Research's November challenge to do 100 squats or star jumps every day for a month.

The nursery nurse was inspired after her niece Layla Miller, from Dartford, found out she had two brain tumours following a routine eye test.

The youngster had been suffering from headaches for years but this had all been put down to a family history of migraines.

But during an eye appointment in January last year, a trainee optician discovered Layla, who was seven at the time, had a raised optic nerve.

She was referred to hospital for an urgent appointment and after an MRI, medics called the family, of Waldeck Road, in February and told them Layla had a large brain tumour.

Mum Ruby, 30, said: "It was pretty scary. I did not know what to do. I was home alone with the kids as my partner was at work. I just did not know what to do with myself."

Within two hours, the Royal Park Primary pupil was admitted to King's College Hospital in London where a follow-up scan showed two tumours on her brainstem.

Layla underwent a craniotomy, a form of brain surgery which involves removing part of the skull, and was in the operating theatre for 12 hours.

Doctors were able to remove most of the tumour but had to leave a small mass as it would have been too dangerous to remove. She was discharged after six days and now has six-monthly scans.

Layla's aunt Scarlet is taking part in the November challenge after seeing how underfunded research is – historically around 1% of the national spend on cancer research is allocated to the disease.

Scarlet, from Sidcup, said: "We are shocked by how underfunded brain tumour research is and, as a family, are trying to do as much as we can to raise money for the charity in the hope of helping others in the same situation we were.

"Layla is coping really well. She has a bit of anxiety and going to sleep at night can be a bit of a struggle for her but otherwise she is doing really well. She is really brave and strong."

The 26-year-old will be doing 100 squats or star jumps every day for a month. You can donate here.

She said: "My sister is really happy I am taking on this challenge and was one of the first to sponsor me for it.

"I am excited to see if I can do it and how long it takes me, but I am also a bit nervous because I do not really do much exercise so am worried about going to work with jelly legs.

"I am planning on mixing it up a little with squats and star jumps because I am not sure my legs could take 100 squats a day, and my three-year-old daughter, Blossom, will probably do some star jumps with me, so it will be fun."