KIND communities are doing their very best to help a poorly little girl.

Many events are under way to boost a fund for brave Sarah-Ann Lee, of Scholes, Holmfirth.

Staff and regulars at their local, The Boot and Shoe in Scholes, are staging a race night on Saturday.

The pub has already raised about £1,700 for cancer-sufferer Sarah-Ann, to help pay for a planned trip to Disney World, Florida, when she's well enough.

Milnsbridge Socialist and Almondbury Liberal clubs have also raised cash for the family.

Their help has amazed and delighted the Lees. Michelle and Craig did not know their two-year-old daughter was seriously ill, even when they found a lump in her stomach.

Sarah-Ann had shown no symptoms of the cancer she was harbouring and had made no complaints, other than a bit of a tummy ache.

But between Christmas and the new year, Michelle, 31, took Sarah-Ann to their GP.

She was referred to Huddersfield Royal, then St James's Hospital, Leeds.

Doctors kept her in hospital for two weeks until they knew exactly what was wrong. On January 8 she was diagnosed with Wilms's tumour.

The disease affects about six children per million and is the most common kidney problem among youngsters.

The fact that Sarah-Ann was in hospital over the festive period helped her parents to cope.

Craig said: "It was the best time to be in hospital, as there were so many people in there."

And Michelle said: "It was a packed 21-bed ward. We bonded with quite a few parents."

The couple, of Lee Terrace, Scholes, praise St James's staff, who they say are "fantastic". Michelle said: "I cannot fault them. They are all dedicated."

Sarah-Ann has had two operations and now has just half of one kidney.

"Apparently, the remaining kidney will compensate," said Michelle.

* Wilms's tumour is a type of cancer that affects the kidney in young children. It is the most common kidney malignancy in youngsters

* It is named after German surgeon Max Wilms, who first described the condition about 100 years ago

* The annual incidence is about six per 1m children. It accounts for 6% of all childhood malignancies

* The age of diagnosis is usually between one and three years

* In 5% of cases it affects both kidneys

* Another name for these cancers is nephroblastoma

* In nine out of 10 cases the cause of Wilms's tumour is not known

* A combination of surgery and chemotherapy often results in a better than 90% chance of a cure.