Thousands of pounds has been raised to make sure a little girl can keep kicking.

Isabelle Harwood-Lucas, from Southfields, Harrietsham, was diagnosed with substantial triple scoliosis curve of the spine in the summer.

The keen singer's dad, James Harwood-Lucas, said: "It's quite rare because kids who develop scoliosis only normally get one curve but she's got three."

The NHS provides a kind of fusion surgery that would cure Izzy, 11, but would stop her growth and prevent her from kickboxing, one of her favourite hobbies.

Hope is at hand, but it costs £60,000.

Mr Harwood-Lucas added: "St George's Hospital in London offer something called Vetebral Tethering Surgery, it would fix the scoliosis and she would be able to keep growing and keep up her kickboxing.

"She's been doing it since was three, we took her there just for a bit of discipline but she ended up loving it. She was supposed to have a competitive fight last year but they couldn't find a competitor, hopefully she can have this surgery and in a few months do it then."

The London Fire Brigade firefighter said he and his wife, Kyra, noticed there was something wrong when they were out for a dog walk and Izzy's back was hunched over.

He added: "When we got home we saw there was a lump, we got lucky, our GP used to be a spinal doctor and was able to diagnose it straight away.

"We're a tight family and we've really pulled together, it came as a complete shock to hear your daughter needs surgery that could affect her quality of life, but me and her mum would do anything to help her.

"Izzy is coping well, she has good and bad days and has had to start wearing a brace 23 hours a day, which she says is quite uncomfortable and causing a few aches and pains.

"We started fundraising last month and we can't believe how generous people have been. Right now we have more than £37,000.

"You hear about so many depressing things but we've had help from friends, family and firefighters all over London, even ones I don't know.

"We've got a fundraising ball planned in February as we still need to get £60,000, the doctors have told us Izzy needs surgery before March if the tethering is going to work."

To donate, visit tinyurl.com/kmizzy.

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