Robyn Higgins was diagnoised with cancer earlier this year Photo: Higgins family

Officers and staff from Lewisham police have raised thousands to help send a young girl to America for cancer treatment.

Seven-year-old Robyn Higgins was diagnosed with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer, in May this year. The specialist treatment the Surrey girl needs is unavailable in Britain and costs £300,000.

Over the past month police in Lewisham raised almost £4,000 through raffles, cake sales and sponsored 50-mile runs to and from work. Stations in other boroughs also held fundraising events, and police efforts have helped push the appeal total up to £131,532.

Robyn, who is currently unable to walk because of nerve damage, has endured weeks of chemotherapy and surgery. Specialist care must begin in January 2010 – at the same time as the final phase of her current treatment. Doctors have said that if the cancer returns it will be incurable.

On the appeal website her mother Lisa and father Greg, who is a detective constable in the Metropolitan Police, explain their daughter has a 40 per cent chance of survival.

“To increase her chances of survival it is crucial that she benefits from such treatment that is only available in the Memorial Sloan-Kettering hospital in New York,” they write.

“We think this treatment will start in January so we haven’t got long to raise the amount of money so needed to give this very brave little girl the extra chance of survival that she so desperately deserves. Please help us.”

DC Jim Woods, who organised events at Lewisham Police station, said: “We would like to thank everyone who has donated to the appeal and urge people to please give something to Robyn if they haven’t already. We have all got young kids and got involved because we want to do everything we can to help this little girl get better.”

To make a donation, or find out more about Robyn Higgins, please visit www.justgiving.com/robyn-appeal