BROTHERLY love knows no bounds for 12-year-old Harry Jeffrey-Jackson, who has kick-started a family fundraising campaign to help young cancer sufferers across the county.

Harry raised more than £2,000 last Thursday by having his head shaved in support of little sister Olivia Jeffrey.

She was diagnosed with leukaemia in September and her parents, Alan and Debbie Jeffrey, are hoping to raise money to build a specialist children's oncology room at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

Despite having to undergo lumbar punctures as part of her ongoing chemotherapy treatment, Olivia's main grumble at the tender age of two is not being able to play with any of the hospital's toys .

Because her immune system is so weak, she cannot run the risk of contracting infections from other children by playing in the communal toy room.

Instead, she has to be kept in a sterile environment and all toys have to be cleaned before she can touch them.

Now Debbie and Alan, who live in Over Stowey, are hoping West Somerset residents will support them in a campaign to raise thousands of pounds for a sterile toy room for young cancer patients.

Debbie said: "At the moment Olivia is coping well with her treatment, but she is getting to the stage where's she fed up and it's made worse because she's not allowed to go in the toy room or touch anything in case she catches something from other children.

"It would be great if we could raise enough money to build a specialist oncology room for children where everything can be sterilised and kept clean for them."

Olivia is going to need at least another two and a half years of treatment, followed by five years of monthly check-ups.

"She's doing okay but is in and out of hospital constantly. At the moment she's home and we're hoping she'll be here for Christmas, as long as she doesn't get a temperature," Debbie said.

As soon as her temperature goes up, Olivia has to go straight back to hospital and tends to spend half the week at home and the other half undergoing treatment.

Debbie was studying for a degree in health and social care when Olivia was diagnosed with leukaemia, and her studies have had to be put on hold for the foreseeable future.

As well as Olivia and Harry, Debbie and Alan, who run Quantock Plumbing, also have four-year-old Evelyn to look after.

No one suspected Olivia was seriously ill until staff at her pre-school feared she had meningitis when she suddenly developed a rash and felt unwell.

They called a paramedic who initially thought she may have suffered an allergic reaction but advised the family to take her to hospital just to be sure.

Debbie duly headed for Musgrove with Olivia - and was still there waiting for a diagnosis some six hours later.

"They kept coming and taking blood samples but nobody was saying anything so when it got to 10pm I asked if I could put her to bed.

"At midnight they called in a specialist and I knew then it wasn't going to be good and he told me he suspected she had leukaemia and she would be going to Bristol by ambulance at 8am the next morning," Debbie said.

She literally only had the clothes on her back when she arrived in Bristol the next day and was told Olivia was so poorly she would be staying in hospital for at least the next three weeks.

"I had to go shopping to buy some clothes, I only had what I was standing up in as I'd only taken a drink and some crisps to Musgrove with us," Debbie said.

The family are now hoping Olivia will be well enough to stay at home with them throughout Christmas, although she is due for another lumbar puncture and a bone marrow check on New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile Harry, who used to go to Minehead First School, will be hoping Santa brings him some winter woollies after his close shave in support of Olivia!

Anyone who would like to donate to the children's oncology room appeal can contact Alan and Debbie on 01278 732635.