A special birthday party is taking place in Aylesham today to raise money for medical cannabis treatment to help a young girl with a severe form of epilepsy.

Teagan Appleby, who turned 10 this week, used to suffer up to 300 seizures a day before taking cannabis oil.

The drug had been prescribed by a doctor privately while the family's request for an NHS prescription is considered by health authorities.

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But after a doctor said that he can no longer provide the prescriptions and the NHS rejected an application for an individual funding request (IFR) - her family have faced paying £2,500 every month to obtain the medication abroad.

Emma Appleby has organised a party at Aylesham Welfare Leisure Centre - which is taking place from 10am to 4pm today - to celebrate her daughter's 10th birthday and raise money for the medication.

She told KentOnline: "It has been a really really tough year but she is still fighting and smiling - I am really proud of her.

"I decided about six weeks ago to do organise the party, it was kind of last minute but it has actually turned out quite well.

"We've got stalls, cakes, bouncy castle, mega slide, dancing group and a sponsored wax.

"There's all different kinds of things are happening so it should be really good fun."

Ms Appleby - who has resorted to obtaining the medication illegally from Holland - says Teagan's condition has dramatically improved since starting the treatment six months ago.

She added: "Last week I got told that her IFR on the NHS had been rejected, which means the prescription I thought we were going to be getting on the NHS isn't going to happen.

"We are going to have to continue to fund her medication privately which is costing £2,500 a month.

"There's talk of a new importer who is not charging for his services, we are trying to sort out if that's going to happen, and if it does it will stop me from breaking the law and going abroad to get it.

"I can't give up on that hope, I have to keep fighting and I will - as any parent would"...Emma Appleby

"If that doesn't come through I will have to continue to go abroad to get it because I just cannot afford the import costs the pharmacies are charging.

"I have to be hopeful, I have to keep fighting. Teagan needs the medication, it is not an option she has to have it.

"This isn't just helping her it is changing her life. She has changed massively in the last six months and it is all down to the cannabis oil.

"I can't give up on that hope, I have to keep fighting and I will - as any parent would."

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