A brave Dover teenager needs to go to America for vital medical treatment – and her family are appealing for funds to help.

Bryoni Millar, of Buckland Avenue, needs to have the last piece of a six-year-old tumour dispersed without the dangers of an operation. Around £2,000 is needed to pay for the trip.

The 18-year-old's ordeal began last July, when Bryoni was staying at her grandmother's home and was found unconscious in bed. Within half-an-hour, Bryoni was in hospital undergoing a lifesaving operation.

Her mother Tara Bingham believes if she had been left any longer she would have died. It is thought the tumour had been growing undetected for about six years.

The former pupil at St Edmund's Catholic School has since been operated on to remove bone cancer from the back of her skull.

Surgeons removed a large tumour, which surrounded her brain stem, but a tiny piece was left behind as it was too close to her spinal column and too dangerous to operate on.

Now the teenager has to live with partial facial paralysis and has also lost the hearing in her left ear.

Mrs Bingham said: "She is OK at the moment – she does have her off days."

The US can provide Bryoni with proton therapy, which should disperse the last piece of the tumour without the other risks of an operation.

The NHS has funded the cost of the treatment, but Bryoni's grandmother - who will accompany her to the US for up to nine weeks - will need to live out there for that time.

That is why the family are hosting a benefit music event at the Cricketers, in Crabble Avenue, on Sunday.

They will ask people to donate £2 for adults and 50p for children to attend and there will be a raffle.

Mrs Bingham added: "Local musicians will be playing out of the goodness of their hearts.

"Any money raised above and beyond what is needed will be going to King's College Hospital in London for all they did to save her.

"Please all show your support and join in with your families."

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