A Folkestone schoolgirl has been whisked off to New York to start vital medical treatment to prevent a relapse of her cancer.

Maya Nash's family have been desperately fundraising for treatment currently not available on the NHS after she was diagnosed stage four high-risk neuroblastoma at the age of just three in 2017.

The condition is one of the most aggressive and rare forms of childhood cancer and early symptoms can be easily mistaken for common childhood illnesses.

Over 20 months, the toddler from Etchinghill endured several rounds of treatment, including ten cycles of chemotherapy, stem cell harvesting and surgery.

Now five-years-old, Maya's cancer is considered 'not active' meaning no further treatment is planned in the UK. But the cancer returns in almost 50% of children diagnosed, with less than one in ten surviving.

In a post on Facebook, the family said on Sunday: "We’re on our way to New York to start treatment!

"As you know, we have been fundraising for a vaccine that could help to keep Maya cancer-free.

"We have to start this treatment next week otherwise she won’t be allowed to have it, ever!"

Maya’s family have been campaigning to raise £243,000 to access the bivalent vaccine clinical trial at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York.

Treatment had to begin within 45 days of last clear test. The trial, now in its third phase, is designed to prevent relapse with a year's treatment and a two year follow-up when she returns to England. Maya will have to be seen privately because it is not covered on the NHS.

The charity supporting Maya's campaign called Solving Kids’ Cancer have underwritten the amount needed to get the youngster to the States to receive the first stage of the vaccine, but the family are continue their fundraising appeal to pay for her follow-ups. So far, £27,000 has been raised, and the family say they still have a long way to go.

The post added: "We’re determined to fundraise and we have loads of events planned and we desperately need your help to make our target to keep Maya in treatment over the next year.

"Thank you for all your donations and support so far! Please continue to share Maya’s story to raise awareness and to raise much-needed funds."

Friends, businesses and strangers have been organising fundraising quizzes, concerts and curry nights, as well trying to tap up celebs for some support, including her favourite singer Ed Sheeran.

Maya, who goes to Lyminge Primary, listened to the artists music on repeat on the Royal Marsden cancer hospital jukebox.

To donate to Maya’s campaign visit solvingkidscancer.org.uk/campaigns/maya-nash or text donate MYNA99 and your amount between £1 and £10 to 70070.

You can also follow and share Maya’s story on Facebook by searching Maya Nash's Urgent Appeal.