THE family of a young girl who has a rare form of leukaemia have smashed their £200,000 fundraising target.
However the celebrations for the family of Ayesha Siddiqui are tinged with uncertainty as the youngster, who was diagnosed with the disease three years ago, is having to undergo further chemotherapy.
The nine-year-old's parents, Noreen and Nadeem, from Newton Mearns, say it is likely she will need a bone marrow transplant. Now Mrs Siddiqui has issued a plea for "heroes" to help save Ayesha's life by registering as potential donors.
The 49-year-old said: "We've always encouraged people to look into becoming a donor - we want to get this message across again."
The money raised for Ayesha's Appeal will go to the Anthony Nolan Trust, which helps leukaemia patients find a match for a stem cell, bone marrow or cord blood transplant.
After reaching their target the fundraising will continue - but now the family want to give something back to Yorkhill Hospital.
Mrs Siddiqui said 75 per cent of future funds would go to the hospital's Schiehallion Ward, which cares for young people with cancer, with the rest going to Anthony Nolan.
She said: "We can't believe we've got this far - it's unbelievable how generous people are.
"We'd like to give something back to Yorkhill and specifically the Schiehallion, which has been so good for Ayesha."
Despite the news from Ayesha's doctors that she needs to continue her fight against the illness, Mrs Siddiqui says everyone remains positive.
She said: "Ayesha is exactly the same as she always is - she's cheeky and mischievous.
"When people meet her they're quite surprised -you wouldn't know what she's had to go through."
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