A MOTHER has spoken of her heartbreak at her "amazing" daughter's life-threatening battle with kidney cancer.

Jessica Dovey, aged three, was diagnosed with a rare Wilms tumour in June, after suffering stomach pains, a loss of appetite and unusual levels of tiredness.

Her mother Becky Dovey from Sentinel Close, in St John's, Worcester, has described the last few months as "the worst time of her life."

Mrs Dovey said: "She is an amazing girl who lights up every room she is in. Everyone who meets her notices how great she is.

"It has just been the hardest time of my life, it is heartbreaking.

"I have a one year old child as well so it has been so tough.

"It is just awful seeing my little girl losing her hair. She has been so brave and is such an inspiration.

"Her cancer is at stage three level, which is classified as high risk. It is the worst it possibly can be without affecting her liver or her lungs.

"She was diagnosed on June 4, when she was unusually tired and suffering stomach pains. The tumour in her kidney had grown and was pushing against her stomach.

"I phoned 111 and she was taken to Riverbank (the children's ward at Worcester Royal Hospital) where they diagnosed it, she is looked after there and at Birmingham Children's Hospital and both of them have been superb.

"She had chemotherapy for four weeks straight after diagnosis, before having her kidney removed with the tumour. She then started a new 36 week programme, which if it all goes well, will end in March or April."

Mrs Dovey's work colleagues at Cactus Search and Frontline, based in Foregate Street, helped to raise around £8,000 for Birmingham Children's Hospital after cycling and running in support of her daughter.

The 12 staff including Mrs Dovey travelled 509 miles cycling and running between them over five days including director Guy Masters, who managed close to the length of 2.5 marathons running to and from work everyday.

Mrs Dovey added: "I am so thankful to my work colleagues. Francesca (Randle, who works at the company) said that they felt really helpless and wanted to do something to support Jessica.

"They are so supportive and have done anything they can to help."

Her work colleague Emma Jones, who helped by cycling around 50 miles added: "Our mileage week on Jessica’s Journey went exceptionally well and we are over the moon with the amount we have managed to raise.

"It was a tough and gruelling week, but it's amazing what can be achieved and we really hope that the money raised will help BCH to continue to develop its support and services to sick children in the Midlands area.

"We also want to thank our amazing supporters, all 250 of them who all contributed in reaching this amazing result.

"We wanted to do something to support their family and others having to go through similar, desperately traumatic, health issues.

"Jessica is receiving her care from Birmingham Children's Hospital (oncology ward), who have been fantastic and instrumental in her treatment."

To donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cactus-search1