FAMILY and friends of a little girl who is battling leukaemia are rallying round and trying to raise money in her name.

Eight-year-old Niamh Curbishley was diagnosed with cancer of the blood in July after receiving treatment for suspected meningitis.

Niamh was transferred to The Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, where she has been having bone marrow checks, lumbar punctures and chemotherapy, as initial tests showed that 90 per cent of her cells were leukaemic.

Fundraisers are now joining forces in a bid to collect £5,000 for Ronald McDonald House, which has provided mum Schula and partner Glenn, as well as Niamh’s sisters Hannah and Cerys, with somewhere to stay while she is in hospital.

A team of 15 colleagues from Taking Teeth and Signature Smiles dental practices in Warrington and Widnes – where Glenn is area manager – will be walking more than seven miles this weekend as part of a campaign to raise money for the national charity, which provides home away from home accommodation near hospitals across the country for families of sick children.

Glenn said: “It will be a challenge for all of us but it’s such a worthy cause.

“It’s heart-warming to know that so many people want to help Niamh and are willing to give up their time to raise money.

“Niamh has had a tough few weeks because she suffered a seizure a few days after being allowed to go home, and then she had another in the back of the ambulance while she was being taken to hospital.

“She spent two days in intensive care and a day on high dependency but she’s now improving again.

“She can’t walk very well and can’t remember much but she’s in high spirits and is keeping busy.”

Niamh’s family are hoping to raise £5,000 for Ronald McDonald House so that one of the rooms at their Manchester facility will be named after the youngster.

The sponsored walk will take place this Saturday and the team of volunteers will be walking seven and a half miles from Signature Smiles in Palmyra Square to Haydock Dental Practice on Church Road in St Helens.

More information about the fundraising campaign is available by visiting www.justgiving.com/talking-teeth and to find out more about Niamh visit facebook.co.uk and search for Niamh’s page or Niamh’s journey.