The family of an Andover girl trying to raise £45,000 to fund revolutionary treatment for her brain tumour received a welcome boost in the Chantry Centre last week.

A team from South Today were in the shopping centre as it hosted demonstrations and taster sessions from Andover's Martial Arts World (MAW) and their 'Little Ninja' children's group, to raise mush needed funds for Faith Sharpe, aged five, who was given a year to live after being diagnosed with a tumour in her brain stem.

Faith has been a member of the MAW Little Ninjas, and the team liaised with members of the public while the news team filmed the event which was broadcast later that day.

Initially money was collected for 'once in a lifetime' treats for Faith and the family, including a trip to Lapland sponsored by the shopping centre.

However, the family have now identified some potentially life saving treatment being developed for children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma brain tumours by professor Steven Gill at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

Though the science is ready the funding is not available and Faith's mother Laura and the family are now hoping to raise £45,000 for faith to receive this revolutionary treatment.

Laura has been working with local groups raise funds for Faith.

She said: "I'd like to thank the MAW academy and everyone who donated to help get our beautiful Faith on her way to getting on this trial to potentially save her life.

"The thing is for Faith time is everything.

"Some people may say ' we'll get there, but it may take six months to raise the money', but I may not have six months.

"The sooner she's got it the better the chance that it's going to do something."

Natalie Bryden, MAW instructor said: "The event was deemed a success - not so great for donations on the day, but the publicity from South Today has boosted the gofundme page.

Steve Cotney, Chantry Centre manager, said: "Laura and her family have already been overwhelmed by the generosity of so many people, both friends and strangers.

"We hope that by bringing the fundraising to the heart of Andover we can help raise even more vital cash."

To help Faith go to gofundme.comseeaq9dw