A Montgomery youngster who was diagnosed with bone cancer at the start of lockdown is looking forward to a special treat after her parents launched a fundraising campaign.

Amelia Spalding, aged 10, has mostly spent lockdown in various hospitals and has been having chemotherapy and operations since her diagnosis early in lockdown – but has coped "amazingly", and retained her "wicked sense of humour and endless optimism", according to her parents.

Now they have set up a fundraising campaign so that Meli, as she is known, can return to Germany and Holland when the time comes to celebrate the end of her treatment – and the caring Montgomery community have already helped them raise nearly £5,000.

They went there on a family holiday three years ago, when the daring youngster was saddened to find out she was an inch too short to go on the biggest and scariest roller coaster at the Efteling theme park.

Dad Tom Spalding said: “This girl has a crazy thrill for adrenaline. She had wanted to return when she was 'big enough' and three years later, I'm sure she will be tall enough.”

Within a week of being set up, the fundraising had surpassed its initial target, which was based on the amount Tom estimated Meli’s dream holiday would cost, but their friends and community are continuing to help them raise more so that the trip can be even more special, and to help Meli with other things she may need.

Meli’s friend Keri has been hula hooping with an “Amelia’s Holiday Fund” donation bucket to add to funds for her “BFF”, and will be doing a further hula challenge in early September – four hours of hula hooping in one day (in two two-hour sessions), which equates to around 25,000 spins.

Meli’s Nan and Grandma hosted a socially distanced garden coffee morning with cakes and produce for sale, and split the proceeds between Amelia’s fund, children's cancer research and Beads of Courage UK, a charity which played a massive part in helping Meli to understand and accept the side effects of treatment.

Tom said: “We are blown away by the status of the fund. Thank you everyone so much. I had thought that amount was unachievable and we all really appreciate everyone giving what they can.

“Anything raised above this will go to make the holiday as nice as we can, and if possible look towards an electric push bike to help Amelia get mobile again.”

Amelia’s fundraising page and story can be found atwww.gofundme.com/f/fngxcb-3000