A FUNDRAISING appeal has been boosted to help a little girl from York get a life-changing operation.

Poppy Wadsworth is eight-years-old and lives with a congenital birth condition called cloaca, which means several of her internal organs are not properly separated.

The condition affects just one in 50,000 children, and means Poppy has undergone years of corrective surgery - including an 11-hour procedure when she was just seven-months-old.

On Friday, The Press reported how doctors in Columbus, Ohio, offered to contribute half the cost of a £100,000 operation if her friends and family can raise the initial £50,000, and since then, the appeal target has more than trebled, with the current donations totalling more than £3,700.

Alison said: "I'm absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity.

"People have been absolutely amazing. It's not a life-threatening illness, but it's so nice to see nice messages on the Just Giving page. I can't thank people enough."

As well as donations, offers of help and support to the appeal have also been made.

Pam East-Watson's daughter Beverley, from Clifton, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2004, but has since been given the all-clear, and Pam said she wanted to help Poppy's family.

She said: "It's not cancer, but it's a rare thing and if we can do something towards it it's a help. It just seems right thing to do.

"We've also had a member of our family who had a stoma bag for years, and when we saw Poppy's story we thought it was something we might be able to help with. I've got a couple of friends who will be able to help put on a charity night to help raise money for the fund."

A pop-up boutique is also being arranged by Alison's friend Emma Schofield, which will sell donated fashion on May 10, at a venue to be announced.

To find out more about the boutique, go to the facebook page 'Poppy's Pop Up Boutique Appeal'.

To donate to Poppy's appeal, go to justgiving.com/Alison-Wadsworth