Time is running out for a little girl in Thornton Heath who is suffering from a rare form of cancer.

Last month the Croydon Guardian highlighted the plight of Serena Souiffi, aged three, who has suffered from neuroplastoma, a tumour of the adrenal glands, for the past 18 months.

She is currently receiving chemotherapy but it is only palliative - the only hope is pioneering treatment in America.

But it costs £125,000 and her mum Lorraine is frantically trying to raise the daunting sum and save her daughter's life.

She said: "Serena is stable at the moment at home and on medication throughout the day. The situation is getting very desperate. Her only chance is to go to America but it's about trying to get the money in time to get her there."

Serena was initially told she had gone into remission in January but in April doctors told Lorraine the cancer was back and could be resistant to chemotherapy.

The treatment is vital as it shrinks the tumour in Serena's right thorax, necessary for her to be eligible for MIBG treatment, a form of radiotherapy, in America.

Lorraine added: "I thought it would be best for her to be at home while getting the treatment as she would be happiest.

"But it means I do not have any time to go out fundraising as I am caring for Serena."

Lorraine has had some response from the initial appeal but is still more than £100,000 away from the total needed to try and save her daughter.

She added: "I am still very far away and we just don't know what's going to happen. I want to ask anybody that can donate just 50p or a pound it will help."

If you want to help Serena, contact her mum Lorraine on 07882 075665.