Multiple Sclerosis victim Yasmin Heesom is set to fly to America before Christmas to beat her excruciating pain after a massive boost to her fundraising campaign.

Athletics coach Dave Curwell worked with Yasmin when she was one of the country's top 50 athletes at the age of 15, before MS started to ruin her life.

Now Dave has given her £3,500 out of his own pocket to help meet the costs of complementary treatment at New York's Schachter Centre, where North Yorkshire cancer victim Gail Hepworth went last year.

Dave said he had been moved to help her because of the terrible pain she was always in, and had could afford the money after an endowment policy paid out.

"All this is so frustrating for Yasmin and the people looking after her," he said. "She was so effervescent and outgoing, and had such a zest for life, but the pain she suffers stops her enjoying life.

"If this works, it would be so great. I said I would help her."

The money brings the total raised so far to £7,500, with more still to come from fund-raising at York's Gimcrack pub, where £500 was raised from a bungee jump and gala day in the summer.

Yasmin's carer, Debbie Walker, is also hoping further funds will be raised from a recital in York which has been promised by Dame Judi Dench.