A mother said she is overwhelmed by support for her daughter who is battling a rare form of brain cancer.

As previously reported in the Echo, Pippa Murray, aged eight, has been battling Embryonal CNS Neuroblastoma Fox2 Activation - a rare form of brain cancer which affects young children.

Mum Carly and dad James were on holiday in France in May with their three children when  Pippa fell ill. They rushed her to the hospital where a large tumour the size of a satsuma had to be removed in an eight-hour long surgery.

What has followed is a gruelling road to recovery, including multiple rounds of chemotherapy.

A fundraiser to go towards supporting Pippa, including therapy and alternative treatments, has raised more than £9,000 and an online auction organised by friends raised £3,700.

Carly said: "The auction was absolutely amazing, me and my friends who set it up were shocked by how many people got involved. 

"We are massively grateful for the generosity, kindness and support, it really helps us get through, not only the funds but emotionally."

Read more: Mother of little girl fighting brain cancer tells of 'living nightmare'

Pippa's cancer shrunk slightly following the latest round of chemotherapy, which gives hope that the current treatment of proton beam therapy will 'blast it to oblivion' - after which only a single more round of chemo would be needed.

"It just depends on how well her body can manage and if there are any delays. We are hoping it will all go smoothly, but we are definitely looking well into next year," said Carly.

"It is still a very long journey ahead.

"She is doing well in herself. When she was doing chemo she could only do four days out of hospital before she had to go back because she was so ill.

"There are lots of appointments nearly every day, so it is very busy for her."

Proton beam therapy is a type of radiotherapy that uses a beam of high-energy protons, which are small parts of atoms, rather than high-energy X-rays to treat specific types of cancer.

Read more: Mother of Weymouth cancer boy thanks community for support

Only two centres in the UK offer this therapy, and Pippa is being treated at the University College London Hospital - with her family staying nearby.

The Murray family lived in Weymouth and then Portland before deciding to sell their home two years ago to pursue a 'bus life'.

Carly, 43, and Dorset Police employee James, 39, have two other children Lailah, 12, and Roman, six.

They travel around the region - the children are home-schooled - but they frequently return to the Weymouth area and have family living here.

If you would like to support Pippa and her family, visit: gofundme.com/f/please-support-pip-through-stage-4-brain-cancer