A YOUNG girl is preparing for a dream trip to Florida after people dug deep to raise £4,000.
Jazmine Jones was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma – a rare form of cancer among children.
Now, she has completed her final cycle of chemotherapy and, despite being in and out of hospital and losing her hair, Jazmine, 8, is as talkative and bubbly as ever.
When her parents, Aimee Vincent and Lee Jones, appealed through the Mail for the public's help to raise money for a trip to Florida, they were not prepared for the overwhelming response.
More than £4,000 has now been raised for the Cavendish Primary School pupil to go on holiday next year to Disneyland.
"I just can't wait to see Mickey and Minnie," Jazmine said.
"It's been okay having lots of attention and I want to say 'thank you' to everyone."
Lee said he has been touched by the kindness of strangers offering to help ease their pain.
"We were even called by a curry house in east Hull, offering us a free meal," he said.
"It was just such a lovely gesture and a nice treat for the family."
Jazmine is now recovering after six cycles of chemotherapy and in the new year, she will find out if it has been successful.
Lee said: "Her last treatment made her really weak and she was sick a lot of the time.
"She doesn't usually get that poorly but it just all caught up with her and it was horrible to watch.
"It's very aggressive chemotherapy and it knocked her for six.
"But everyone has stuck by us and the fundraising has taken our minds off it a bit.
"We've made friends for life and we're so grateful for what people have done for us."
Aimee said the family will be having a quiet Christmas but they are feeling more positive than they expected to after the diagnosis.
She said: "All Jazmine really wants for Christmas is a dictionary. She's a very bright little girl.
"Jazmine loves writing to Father Christmas. She always puts out a mince pie and a carrot.
"It has been very hard but we've stuck together and things are looking up for us."
As part of the fundraising efforts, Hull KR player Rhys Lovegrove is growing a beard and mohawk for the first game of the 2013 Super League season and has already pulled in more cash.
A 72-hour football match also took place in east Hull, raising hundreds for the cause, and it is hoped it will become an annual event held on Jazmine's birthday.
Lee said: "After Florida, we'd like to raise money for other families in a similar situation.
"We realise the importance of fundraising and places like Eckersley House at Leeds General Infirmary."
