Kelly Turner’s mother has made an emotional New Year plea for people to keep helping her during 2017.

The 16-year-old from Dover was given two years to live 15 months ago and needs £1 million for life-saving treatment in America for a rare form of cancer.

Linda Turner says: “She’s our world, our life, our best friend and losing her would leave a big, giant, gaping hole of emptiness.”

Last year saw a mass of fundraising events inside and outside Dover to help her and parents Martin and Linda are desperate to keep the momentum going this year.

Mrs Turner wrote on the Kelly Turner Fundraising Facebook page: “Please, please, please don’t give up on Kelly in 2017. We desperately need to get Kelly her treatment in 2017.

“New Year doesn’t really mean anything to us while we have this heavy cloud hanging over us.

"I know there are lots of charities that also need support, but Kelly is our world, and I think I would probably cry every day for the rest of my life if she doesn’t make it.

“She’s our world, our life, our best friend and losing her would leave a big giant gaping hole of emptiness.

“She gives us fun and laughter, and she has got so much love and talent to give.

“We are so grateful we have Kelly in our lives and we want it to stay that way.”

Kelly’s own New Year message on the Facebook page says: “I’m so grateful for everyone I’ve met in 2016 and all the love everyone has given me.

“I’ve met new people and very incredibly supportive people who have done so much for me,

“I’ve been to events that have raised hundreds of pounds for me and I’ve been blessed with some great friends.

“This year has really restored my faith in humanity and has shown me that there are some truly kind and caring people out there.

“Thank you all for being there and I look forward to a new, fresh 2017 where hopefully I’ll be free from cancer for good! Lots of love to everyone, Happy New Year.”

Kelly has a rare form of cancer called desmoplastic small round cell tumours. They are a type of sarcoma that affect only 30 teenagers annually, worldwide.

The only place that can carry out the surgery is the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York but at a cost of £1 million for that and follow-up treatment.

The centre has agreed to start surgery with the sum of around £400,000 with immunotherapy done when the rest of the money is raised.

The precise amount needed depends on dollar to sterling exchange rates at the time of payments.

Today Kelly’s JustGiving page recorded that exactly £368, 637 has so far been raised, 36% of the total sum needed.

Fundraising events for her continue with proceeds from the new Dover Operatic and Dramatic Society pantomime going for the cause.

Cinderella will be performed at Dover Town Hall from Wednesday, January 11 to Saturday, January 14 nightly at 7.15pm with a 1.30pm Saturday matinee.

A Night at the Oscars with Kelly Turner takes place at the Bluebirds Function Rooms in Snargate Street, Dover, at 7.30pm on Saturday, January 28.

Music will be both from a DJ and a choral performance of Proud, the Heather Small song adopted for Kelly.

For further details of fundraising events visit the Kelly Turner Fundraising page on Facebook.