A mum is struggling to pay £100 a day for a cancer drug so she can see her two-year-old twins grow up.

Now members of a mother and baby group are rallying around to help their cancer-suffering friend finance life-prolonging treatment the NHS refuses to fund.

The 13-mum club, which has met almost every Friday in Gravesend for the past two years, is fighting to extend the life of Nikki Phelps, who has been battling cancer for 10 years.

The 37-year-old mother-of-two, of Wrangling Lane, Luddesdown, has multiple endocrine neoplasis (MEN1), a genetic condition that has ravaged her body with tumours.

Her cancer has spread so violently the only chance of prolonging her life is the drug Sunitinib, which is costs her around £3,000 per month.

The £100 tablets, of which Mrs Phelps must take one a day, are not a cure, but they could slow the cancer spreading and make it more manageable for treatment on the NHS.

Husband Bill, 45, said the family, which includes twins Jack and Harry, aged two, had already used £6,000 of savings for a two-month supply of the drug after bosses at NHS West Kent refused funding.

He is prepared to sell the family home and business, The Cat's Pyjamas cattery, if the money runs out.

He said: "Her life now is between the bedroom, the bathroom and the sofa.

"She's not been able to cook a meal for herself in months, she can't change a nappy, or do anything mums do."

Members of the mother-and-baby group have organised an 18-mile walk around the Hoo Peninsula on Sunday, April 25, to raise cash for their friend.

Future fundraising events are also planned.

Mr Phelps said: "It's a strange situation where you realise that just when you were starting to lose faith in everything, people come round like this."

The group of Gravesham mums have set up their own website dedicated to their friend's battle for life, with a fundraising gauge they have called Nikki's Bottle of Pills.

They hope to hit £18,000 - a sum that could provide Nikki with tablets for another six months.

To sponsor the group, visit www.nikki-fundraising.co.uk.