Cancer-stricken mother Gail Hepworth has booked in at a special New York clinic in her attempt to ensure she can see her children grow up.

She made an appointment to begin a complementary treatment course at the Schachter clinic next month as a fundraising drive passed the £5,000 mark.

The appeal, which was launched only a fortnight ago, received its biggest single boost to date this week with a cheque for £1,000 from an anonymous well-wisher from Sheffield.

Several more donations totalling £100 have also come in from people in the York area, taking the total to £5,350.

"We're just staggered with the response," said Gail's husband David last night. "We can only thank all the people who have helped."

More money will be raised over the weekend, first through a "Staying Alive" disco at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall, York, tomorrow evening, then through a clay pigeon shoot at Kirby Underdale on Sunday.

But the appeal's original £7,000 target may now have to be revised, possibly to £9,000, after Gail was advised by the Schachter clinic to undergo a separate course of treatment in Germany.

Gail, 39, of Hemingbrough, near Selby, has incurable secondary bone cancer, which developed after breast cancer suffered four years ago.

When the Evening Press first highlighted her appeal two weeks ago, she said she had too much to live for to die.

She wanted to live long enough to see her sons, Tom and Jack, aged 11 and seven, grow up, and she believed that the complementary treatment offered by the Schachter clinic could help her live a longer and better life.

She had a telephone consultation with clinic director Michael Schachter earlier this week, and, with the appeal total now looking set to hit its target, booked herself in to start treatment on November 15.

Dr Schachter urged her to go to another clinic in Germany for a different treatment, called hyperthermia, which she has been told could shrink the tumour.

She is now investigating the availability and costs of such treatment, and she may go to Germany fairly quickly after returning home from America.

For information about the disco or other events, telephone fund co-ordinator Derek Whetton on 01405 862541.

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