Campaign for princess funeral for five-year-old

Michaela Hunter died on Boxing Day after battling a cancer that affected her brain and spinal cord.

She slipped into a coma after suffering a rare form of cancer for the past three years.

Now it is hoped £8,000 can be raised to give Michaela a send off “fit for a princess”.

Michaela’s mum Carol, from Dundee, said she was “humbled” by the backing the family has received.

She said: “I just want to thank everyone for the support they have shown.

“I just want to thank everyone, including Charlie Kean, who helped and supported us. It’s like a dream. It’s still not really set in.

“At least there’s no more pain for her now. She’s at peace.

“She was a happy, bubbly and brave girl — she was a fighter.”

Carol said that Michaela always beat the odds, even proving doctors wrong when they gave her weeks to live earlier this year.

Carol added: “Her starting school was huge because they never thought she would make it.

“She just never gave up fighting and always beat the odds. She was amazing.”

Dundee charity hero Charlie Kean spent those three years helping Michaela and her family since her diagnosis.

He said he was “devastated” at the news and added: “She was the most beautiful thing. She was happy in her world even though her world was full of pain.

“I was really close to her and her family.

“I had been spending two or three nights a week at their house with them.

“It is devastating, but at least the pain is gone.

“She went through hell and back but she always kept smiling.

“She suffered so much but now she’s at peace.

“I was with her and her parents so long and have seen everything unfold and it has been really hard on them.

“From being told she had cancer, to being told she was in remission, to being told it was back and then being told that she wouldn’t survive — they have been through hell.

“She was an amazing, brave wee girl with a brilliant smile.”

Doctors first found tumours on Michaela’s spine when she was just two.

They found that she was suffering from AT/RT (Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumour).

The illness is characterised by fast growing tumours in the brain and

spinal cord and she began gruelling chemotherapy treatment cycles to combat the disease.

The youngster beat the odds to start Our Lady’s Primary School this year — despite experts only giving her eight more weeks to live in June.

After a campaign was spearheaded by Charlie, Michaela was able to fly off for a family holiday to Benidorm, thanks to donations from Tayside residents.

An online funding page has been started to contribute £8,000 towards Michaela’s funeral costs, which are still being arranged.

Those wishing to donate can visit: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/dean-duncan-1