A charity fundraiser will auction off a dress designed by Donald Trump’s daughter in the run-up to his inauguration as US President.

Mr Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President on Friday.

Jill Martin, 66, of The Grove, Deal, wants the Ivanka Trump dress to go for £300,000 to £400,000 to help Dover cancer teenager Kelly Turner get specialist treatment in America.

She has already tried to contact Mr Trump to buy the size 12 dress back for his eldest daughter but has not so far had a response.

The businessman turned future President is busy preparing for his first days in office.

The garment is now up for auction on the online site eBay.

Mrs Martin explained: “The dress was bought as a present for me from my husband about a year ago, for £80 to £90. At first I had not noticed the label but did after I wore it recently at a party.

“This is a life or death situation so I am hoping someone wealthy will be able to pay the much higher price for it.

“I tweeted Donald and Ivanka and asked if they would make a bid. Apparently he wants to do deals with the UK. This one would be simply amazing.

“I have been contacting Mr Trump at the White House every day, so far with no response.”

Bids start at £300,000 and the target is £400,000.

Mrs Martin is also running a Quids for Kelly Kent campaign to encourage as many of the 1.7 million people in the county to pay £1 for the cause.

It could rapidly lead to the smashing of the total £1 million target for Kelly to have full treatment at specialist clinic in New York for her rare form of cancer.

She said: “If everyone gave just £1 Kelly would be on her way to America. Time is very precious.

“People have already been very kind and I have been receiving donations through the post, through JustGiving and donations have come as far from the Midlands.”

Mrs Martin runs The Town Kitchen home cooked takeaway service in Deal.

Details of Mrs Martin’s campaign are on her Facebook page, which can be searched under “Jill Martin, Town Kitchen.”

The total raised for Kelly by yesterday, is £381,550 according to her JustGiving page.

She needs $500,000 (or just over £400,000) for initial surgery at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York with follow-up immunotherapy when the rest of the £1 million is raised.

The figure of £400,000 or more varies from time to time depending on the exchange rate and stood at £408,000 last week.

Kelly, 16, has a form of cancer called desmoplastic round cell tumours. They are a type of sarcoma that affect only 30 teenagers a year worldwide.

n You can donate online to justgiving.com/fundraising/kelly-turner2000.

You can also give to the Kelly Turner Fundraising account at the NatWest bank in Dover. The sort code is 600704 and the account number is 39767000.

The next listed fundaising event, as shown on the Kelly Turner Fundraising Facebook page, is a wine and wisdom evening.

It is this Saturday from 7pm at St Margaret’s Village Hall.

Tables are for up to eight participants and those attending need to bring their own food and drink.

Entry is £5 per person and to book call 01304 852634.

And a night at the Oscars with Kelly Turner takes place at the Bluebirds Functions Rooms in Snargate Street, Dover, at 7.30pm on Saturday, January 28.

Tickets are £15 and are available by calling 01304 226586. You can also visit the venue for tickets or buy them from Pharos Computers in Dover High Street and Connect U at Deal High Street.

A coffee morning takes place at St Leonard’s Church in London Road, Deal, from 9.30am to 11.30am on Tuesday, February 7.