Family and friends of a terminally ill mum of four young children are determined to send them to a dream holiday in Florida.

Jo Medhurst, 31, from Gillingham, was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and then received the devastating news that the disease had already spread throughout her body.

A fundraising campaign has been launched to pay for Mrs Medhurst, husband Richard, 27, and children Liam, 13, Lewis, 11, Leon, nine, and Sherrie-mai, seven, to go to Disney World.

In just six days their JustGiving page has already been pledged more than £2,000 towards the £12,000 target.

Mrs Medhurst, of May Road, had been going to her doctor suffering from pain caused by constipation for three months. At one stage she went to A&E in agony and hardly able to walk.

It was when she had an MRI scan that a lump was discovered, and she was booked in for tests which confirmed bowel cancer.

Since then Mr Medhurst has given up his job working at an agricultural products plant in Hoo to become his wife’s carer.

He said: “When people ask how we are coping as a family, we are not. We have always wanted to go to Florida but could never afford it. I am determined to make this dream come true for Jo and the children.”

The campaign has been led by Mrs Medhurst’s sister, Tiffany Smith, 26, who also lives in Gillingham. She said: “It has been a horrible journey and we are all still in shock. We all live in hope every day, despite the prognosis.

“Joanne’s main aim is to make as many memories as possible with her husband and children.”

In a cruel twist of fate, Jo’s father, Clint Smith, died from a brain tumour at the age of 31.

Mrs Medhurst is halfway through her third bout of chemotherapy at Medway Maritime Hospital, which is due to finish just before Christmas.

Since her condition has deteriorated, she has been on increased medication and finds it hard to get out but the couple, who met when they were teenagers, have been loaned a Motability vehicle.

Mr Medhurst said: “We have never had a car so we have been here, there and everywhere – trips to Brighton and Eastbourne. It has certainly helped.”

The family find it difficult to attend services at the Salvation Army hall in Church Street, Chatham, where they have worshipped for eight years, but they are sent recordings of the services so they can play them back at home.

Mrs Medhurst said: “We have always told the children the truth about what is happening. The younger ones think that all the time mum is here it’s OK.

“Sherrie-mai believes in God and she has said to me, ‘It’s not fair mum, you are going to get to see Jesus before me’.”