A mother-of-two faces a year-long wait for a life-saving cancer operation unless £50,000 can be raised to send her to a private hospital.

In February Benniess Robinson, from Chatham, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer when she visited the doctors thinking she had an infection.

After numerous visits to a private doctor it was decided the 53-year-old's organ was unable to be removed due to the size and location of the tumour.

Benniess, also known as Binny, began chemotherapy in London on the NHS, a month after her initial visit.

At the beginning of June the private doctor Binny had visited got in contact with her again after noticing on her records the tumour had shrunk enough to operate on, however it would come at a fee of around £50,000.

The alternative was for her to wait around a year for the procedure on the NHS, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now a fundraiser has been set up by her best friend, Sarah Hooper, to fund the operation which has so far generated more than £16,000.

She said: "Due to Binny's current circumstances with stage four lung cancer, a small pelvic mass and a small spinal mass time is of the essence.

"We as her family and friends have decided to set up this go fund me page to help try to fundraise as much as we possibly can to help Binny have the operation in July as per the professor's request."

In a tearful message to people who donated Binny, of Westmount Avenue, said: "I just want to thank everyone who has heard my story and donated.

"Everyone's been so kind and it's really overwhelming."

She hopes to undergo the operation on Monday.

To help cover the costs of the life-saving operation, you can donate here.

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