A HUDDERSFIELD man is backing a desperate battle to save his four-year-old niece.

Ben Bainbridge, of Salendine Nook, has joined forces with his entire family to raise more than £200,000 in just four months to send his little niece Billie for pioneering treatment in the United States.

The schoolgirl, who lives in Exeter with her parents Terri and Sam Bainbridge – Ben’s brother – was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in June this year.

The news came as a second blow after her mum Terri was still undergoing treatment for breast cancer including a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

The family were completely devastated to learn Billie had the worst kind of brain tumour.

It is growing on her brain stem – where all the brain’s vital functions are located – making it too dangerous to operate.

Sadly, survival rates for this kind of tumour are low.

Having already undergone a course of radiotherapy to try to shrink the tumour, doctors broke the news there were no more treatment options open to Billie in the UK.

A huge fundraising drive was launched – called the Billie Butterfly Fund – and was supported by a host of celebrities.

More than £200,000 has so far been raised to send Billie for cancer treatment at a specialised clinic in Texas in October.

Ben, who is married to Siobhan and has a one-year-old daughter Erin, said: “Her illness is the most serious form of brain tumour so the time-scales were very short and we had to raise the money fast.

“She was given the only option of treatment in this country which was a course of radiotherapy.

“Then we were told there was nothing else in this country except palliative care, so we had to look elsewhere.

“The support we have had has been unbelievable. We didn’t expect it but the response has been amazing. I think social networking sites have really helped too.

“It was really hard. When she got ill, she hadn’t even been to school but she goes for a couple of hours a day now.

“We’re just trying to keep things normal for her.

“All we can do is just keep positive for Billie and hope this treatment works.

“The statistics are horrendous but the reason there are statistics is because some do survive this.

“We just have to hope Billie can too.”

A fundraising gig is being held in Huddersfield tonight.

Rock band Small Print and solo artist Dylan Brierley will be performing at the Canalside Sports Complex, Leeds Road, from 7.30pm.