Chester schoolgirl Erin Cross has smashed a second fundraising target to raise thousands of pounds in a bid to save her life.
The five-year-old from Upton desperately needs to receive Car T Cell therapy within the next seven weeks, to put her in remission from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and make her eligible for a bone marrow transplant, which would be her only hope of survival.
Her parents Sarah and Antony last week issued a desperate appeal for the public to help them reach a £100,000 target, which remarkably was met within 48 hours, before they had to extend it to £140,000 due to tax costs and the costs of additional medical care for Erin.
After Sarah appeared on This Morning to highlight Erin's plight, the amount sailed past the new target, meaning Erin can go to America for the chance to get the treatment she so desperately needs.
READ MORE: Upton family have eight weeks to save daughter's life
However, to travel and undergo the treatment, Erin needs to be as healthy as she can be and unfortunately this week she has contracted an infection.
Sarah wrote on Erin's fundraising page yesterday: "Erin has been spiking temperatures constantly meaning that she has an infection.
"Her team are working hard trying to find a focus of the infection so it can be treated with the appropriate antibiotics. She has had bloods taken and will be having scans and a ultrasound later today.
"We need to clear the infection so Erin can continue on her treatment plan, because she needs to be infection free before she starts a trial.
"We will keep you updated on the progress of her infection. Thank you everyone for all your fantastic support."
Sarah also said the family had been left feeling 'utterly overwhelmed' that they have managed to get over the last fundraising hurdle.
READ MORE: Recap the campaign to beat Erin's target
"The impact of going on This Morning was huge," she said. "We had a massive surge in our fundraising and a massive raising of awareness for Car T cell therapy. We can't thank you, the public, enough. Every single donation and message has been read and we are ploughing through your hundreds of supportive messages.
"This campaign has been so much more than we ever envisaged. You have taken Erin to your heart and you have given her life chances that at one point were so very far away."
To donate to Erin's fund, click here
