Ruby was diagnosed with Stage IV Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2017 when she was 4 years old. The disease had spread from her left ankle to her spine, lungs and pelvic area. The tumour in her spine compressed her spinal cord and she quickly lost the use of her legs. Intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy successfully eradicated the tumours, got Ruby back on her feet and allowed her to live a pretty normal life while receiving maintenance chemotherapy for 6 months. In November 2018 she finished treatment and had clean scans the following month.

In February 2019 she complained of a sore back. An emergency MRI scan revealed relapse in her spine. She started second line treatment - more chemo - which continued with some success until September of this year. Again, during treatment she lived a life, most of the time, of a normal 6 year old. Dancing, cycling, swimming and going to school. Scans from July showed tumour progression in her spine. A new protocol was needed. In October, she started a different regimen just before a short break in Disneyland Paris. During the holiday, she started complaining of sore hips and wobbly legs. Fast forward 3 weeks and she is paraplegic, has a bed sore from lying in the same position for too long, takes 4 different pain killers and can no longer feel her feet. Her new winter shoes and boots don't fit because her feet are so swollen. She can't do any of the things she loves to do. 2 years after initial diagnosis she is back in a wheelchair, unable to stand up.

A new treatment plan is being put in place which will involve more radiotherapy, chemotherapy and possibly surgery. The prognosis for Ruby's cancer is extremely poor. She has less than a 5% chance of survival. There is no known cure.

To date, with support from lots of friends, and complete strangers, we have raised just over £30k for research into rhabdomyosarcoma by creating a named fund with CCLG (Children's Cancer and Leukaemia Group). We will continue to do that no matter what happens. Now, since Ruby's condition has deteriorated so much and her prognosis is so poor, we want to do something just for her, to make sure she is able to live the happiest, best, most fulfilling life that a 6 year old with cancer can. The money raised will be used for things that make her life better, such as enabling her to go swimming or have fun with her friends, or buy equipment to make life at home a bit easier.

We are very grateful for any contribution to Ruby's fund. Thank you.