A GROUP of mums in Lickey have united to try and raise £50,000 towards vital surgery for a fellow mother who is battling a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.

Katy Dawson, 36, of Cofton Hackett, found a lump while pregnant with her second child earlier this year, and was forced to undergo an immediate mastectomy while 35-weeks pregnant.

Thankfully, Katy and baby Evan survived the surgery, and Katy is now having chemotherapy. However, Katy's form of breast cancer - triple negative - carries a high risk of recurring in the vital organs of the body.

A post-op pathology exam showed the cancer had spread to four of her lymph nodes, and there were two tumours instead of one. Katy has been told that if the cancer spreads to her vital organs, there is no cure.

So mums at Lickey Hills Primary School, where Katy's daughter Aurelia is a student, have decided to take action and help Katy raise enough money to fly to Germany for the treatment she needs.

The group are organising a raffle, with prizes donated from some of the mums' businesses, and are holding discussions with the school's headteacher to organise fundraisers over the coming weeks.

Claire Millward, whose two children go to school with four-year-old Aurelia, said: "We're all mums and what Katy's going through is just your worst nightmare - the fear of not being able to raise your children. I can't imagine what she's going through."

She added: "Even if we just raise £500 here and there, it will all make the difference. We've all got jobs, all got children, and the summer holidays are only three weeks away so we've got to be quick to organise everything."

Katy and her partner Paul are hoping for her to be treated at the Hallwang Clinic in Dornstetten, Germany, where cutting edge treatments have had positive results among triple negative patients.

Katy said: "Paul and I are very private people by nature who don't ask for help, let alone money, but now we really need the help of our wonderful family, friends and generous strangers with fundraising."

She added: "My cancer diagnosis has taught me that nothing but our health and precious family and friends matter. I have to give this my best shot for my babies. And ladies, check your boobs. You are not too young for breast cancer."

In the last eight days, Katy's Go Fund Me page has received more than £13,000 in donations from 249 people. Anyone wishing to donate should visit gofundme.com/2av467jr.