By Michelle Crean

The family of a little girl diagnosed with a rare form of cancer have this week thanked the community - including those in Killarney where her mom worked - for raising a staggering €20,000 in just six days.

FUNDRAISER: €20k has been raised to help Lorraine and Dodi Sebestova whose seven-year-old daughter Lil was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour on her hand.

A GoFundMe was set up by a Killarney man for Lorraine and Dodi Sebest, whose seven-year-old daughter Lily (Lil) was diagnosed with a cancerous tumour on her hand, called an Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma, just days after her seventh birthday in July.

Colleague and friend, Jason Clifford, who is a Manager at the Dunloe Hotel, worked with Lorraine for the past 15 years and immediately set up the fundraising page to help the couple who gave up their jobs to be at Lil's side. On Wednesday evening Lil finished the first round of treatment which left her exhausted, after three weeks of intensive tests.

In total she has to undergo 25 weeks of chemotherapy and radiotherapy between Crumlin Hospital and St Luke's in Dublin. The couple, living in Spa Road in Tralee, also have four other children and Lorraine told the Killarney Advertiser that the money raised will be a lifeline for them as costs with travel and accommodation will add up.

Her parents say little Lil is staying strong and positive but has put down some bad days.

"She's doing very well," Lorraine said. "We get glimmers of her when she's not so beaten down. She's never been in hospital before and is a happy go lucky child. She has been going since she could walk at 10 months so when you put her in a small room her personality changes."

But she added that their "little warrior is putting up a good fight".

"It's rare, it [the cancer] occurs on the extremities. It's in her thumb and palm and spreading to her ring finger. She's had so many procedures already and has been through the most horrific battle. She is just the best. She is so scared all the time but pushes through it, she is so tough. She is a warrior and made for battle."

Lorraine added that she cannot thank the communities in Killarney and Tralee, her close knit neighbours, and colleagues in the Dunloe Hotel, for the massive support to help get them through this.

"We have four other kids at home that my mom is minding. We both gave up our jobs as we want to do this together. We're a great family and we're strong. We'd be lost without our neighbours and the communities. Jason set up the GoFundMe, which we are grateful for and the generosity has been overwhelming. So many people are dropping in stuff to us including petrol vouchers. It has been unbelievable."

Jason added that Lorraine is a "vibrant and positive person", and had no hesitation setting up the page to help.

"She is just one of those girls everyone clicks with. I just wanted to do something. We think the most of her here."

To make a donation go to GoFundMe: Help Lily Anna Sebestova