The odds are stacked against her, but little Ruby Young and her family are determined not to give into cancer.

Ruby is facing a 45% chance of survival after contracting a rare and aggressive form of the illness. But support has come flooding in for the two-year-old as her family channel their efforts into raising money to help Ruby and other children beat the disease.

The first signs that she was unwell was when she lost her love of food, especially cheese. She had just celebrated her second birthday with parents Vikki and Rob and older brother Freddy when she became ill.

Vikki said: “Ruby became quiet and withdrawn, and then started to refuse food.”

Ruby lost weight rapidly, to the point where a tumour in her stomach became visible.

After a biopsy doctors revealed that Ruby has neuroblastoma, an aggressive childhood cancer affecting just 100 children each year in the UK.

It is at an advanced stage and Ruby is facing a tough journey to get better.

Vikki, of Monmouth Close, Rainham, added: “She was really was so poorly. When we heard the news we were in complete shock.

"Our families were with us and crying. It was devastating and it seems surreal somehow even now.”

Ruby, who loves babies, drawing and playing with her brother’s toys must now undergo up to two years of chemotherapy and treatment at London’s Royal Marsden Hospital. She is having day to day care with Medway Maritime.

Some days Ruby is her “happy and sunny self” but others, as the chemo progresses, she becomes weak and tired, sleeping more than 16 hours a day.

The cancer affects part of the nervous system and has spread throughout Ruby’s body. At one point the tumour in her stomach was pressing on her internal organs and her belly was swelling up and pushing on her lungs. She could hardly breathe and needed oxygen.

Initial treatment is available on the NHS, but there is an 80% chance of neuroblastoma returning and at that point the NHS will no longer offer treatment.

The family are fundraising for the Neuroblastoma Children’s Cancer Alliance (NCCA).

The Facebook group Help Ruby Laura Smash Cancer has almost 3,000 likes and more than £3,700 has been raised for Ruby via www.justgiving.com/RubyYoungJourney.

If you can help by holding or organising a fundraising event call NCCA UK on 020 7284 0800.