A COMMUNITY hopes to send a toddler with cancer to Disneyland.

Katie-Leigh Tones, two, from Crook, County Durham, has tumours in her stomach and neck, and cancerous cells in her bone marrow.

The youngster has had intense chemotherapy since she was diagnosed in January and will undergo an operation in May.

Her mother and father, Michelle and Lee, have given up their jobs to look after Katie-Leigh and their other child, Jordan-Lee, five.

Mrs Tones said: "Katie-Leigh has been really brave, that keeps us going."

Fundraising to give the family a memorable holiday in the US has started in earnest.

Betty Hawkins, Margaret Morgan and Lisa Carruthers, from Crook, are staging a sponsored bungee rocket ride, in Blackpool, on May 19.

The daredevil stunt involves being catapulted 170ft into the air in a cage attached to two bungee ropes.

There will also be a charity disco, at Bishop Auckland's Bar 56, on April 7.

The family said that they had been overwhelmed with the kindness shown by the community.

Mr Tones said: "It's amazing how many people have helped. Shops that have found out about Katie-Leigh and do not even know who she is have sent their own little gifts."

If you would like to sponsor the bungee rocket ride, contact (01388) 767169.