BRAIN tumour patient Ruby Owen was today celebrating her third birthday.

The toddler from Kidsgrove, pictured, was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May last year and has since undergone surgery and several courses of chemotherapy.

Her family are facing a race against time to raise £250,000 so she can undergo proton therapy treatment in Indiana in the U.S.

This form of radiotherapy isolates and treats only the diseased tissue.

The fund is short of about £160,000 which must be secured within the next few weeks so Ruby can be registered for the treatment.

The Owen family are being supported by the charity Caudwell Children which has been publicising the fund-raising appeal.

To donate to the Ruby Owen fund, email ben.sutcliffe@caudwellchildren.com

For more on this story, see tomorrow's Sentinel.