A FAMILY are desperately trying to raise £300,000 to help get alternative treatment for a Wirral schoolgirl who has an inoperable brain tumour.

Lucy Moroney, nine, from Heswall was diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) a terminal and inoperable brain tumour.

The family has since found out that the tumour is grade 4 meaning Lucy has months to live.

Treatment is limited to radiotherapy and chemotherapy on the NHS but there are alternative treatments that the family want to try to keep Lucy alive.

One in particular is Intra-arterial chemotherapy treatment under Dr Alberto Siller and Dr Alberto Garcia in Monterrey, Mexico however this has an estimated cost of £300,000.

Lucy’s aunty Paula said: “Five-and-a-half years ago my sister Nicola (Lucy's mum) tragically died from sudden cardiac arrest at the age of 33, due to undiagnosed Dilated Cardiomyopathy (a heart condition).

“Lucy was only four years old at the time and her sister, Amy, was almost two.

“Nicola was also pregnant with their little sister, Ruby, who was born by c-section at 24 weeks gestation, during Nicola's attempted resuscitation.

“Ruby lived for 14 hours but died in her daddy's arms on January 25, 2012.

“Since the tragedy of losing Nicola and Ruby - Lucy and Amy have had their lives rebuilt around them by their loving dad, dedicated 'Nannie' (my mum) and the rest of the family.

“On July 17, our already broken hearts were shattered into a million pieces when Lucy was diagnosed with DIPG a terminal, inoperable and so far untreatable malignant brain tumour.

“There has been very little research into DIPG and therefore, comparatively little is known about this type of cancer.

“We know it only affects children and the cruel nature and location of the tumour means that DIPG children gradually lose control of their bodily functions.

“Our family is doing everything possible, amid the whirlwind of disbelief we find ourselves in, to find alternative therapies and options that may work either outside or alongside the NHS.

“It's our only hope of helping Lucy and if we have hope, we can keep going.”

So far the family have raised £10,362 of their £300,000 target.

Paula added: “If you can't help by donating to 'Lucy's Pineapple Fund' (Lucy LOVES pineapples) then any research you can do into these and potentially other alternative therapies would be fantastic.

“We are open to suggestions and advice from anyone who has dealt with DIPG - we don't have time on our hands to become experts.

“I'm sure you'll understand that we want to do absolutely everything we can for Lucy.

“With the tumour being grade 4, we don't have time on our side, so we need to raise as much as we can as quickly as we can.

“Any fundraising ideas anyone has please let me know.”

For more information or to donate visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/lucy-pineapple