THE family and friends of a two-year-old girl diagnosed with leukaemia have raised £21,500 in just four months for the hospital treating her.

Little Yasmin Parsons who lives with mum and dad Karen Attwood and Andrew Parsons in Danbury Way, Woodford Green was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma (ALL) in August.

She is undergoing a two-year treatment with chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital and her parents were so grateful for the treatment she received that they set up a blog to raise awareness and money for the hospital.

Yasmin was diagnosed shortly after the birth of her brother, Isaac.

Mum Karen said: “The first two months were awful.

“We were just shell-shocked. Andrew took a lot of time off to be with Yasmin at the hospital at night while I looked after Isaac at home.

“But we had a lot of help from our family.

Mr Parsons works as a photographer and more than £10,000 of the cash raised came from an auction of photographs organised by his Fleet Street colleagues.

He said: “The fact that my news photography colleagues raised so much in so little time shows what a positive contribution the industry can make.”

Yasmin began an intensive course of treatment on December 27 which will last until February.

Mrs Attwood said: “We have quite a few emergency dashes to the hospital, but she has been doing really well and has been with us at home for most of the time.

“It’s been very up and down, but writing about it on the blog and raising the money for Great Ormond Street has been a very positive experience.”

Matt Forrest, head of community fundraising, at GOSH, said: “We are delighted with the fantastic amount raised in such a short time, this will make a huge difference to the work, patients and families of Great Ormond Street Hospital and we are incredibly grateful for all their support and hard work fundraising.”

To find out more about Yasmin and donate to Great Ormond Street visit www.ourlifewithleukaemia.blogspot.co.uk