Charity swim at Haverhill Leisure Centre will raise money for cancer patient Isabelle Vella,11

A charity swimming challenge is being held to raise money for an 11-year-old girl who recently had part of her leg removed due to bone cancer.

Isabelle Vella, who lives in a village near Haverhill with parents Al and Faye and brother Isaac, nearly 13, was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in April.

The aggressive form a bone cancer was found in her right femur and has required weeks of chemotherapy, followed by major limb-salvaging surgery four weeks ago after which the Steeple Bumpstead Primary Academy pupil resumed chemotherapy.

Her dad, who said the chemotherapy had ‘knocked her for six’, gave an insight into how the treatment had affected his previously sporty and lively daughter, saying: “She is very down lately – she is usually a positive little thing – because she can’t get around.

“She is a very outdoors little girl but she can’t do anything like that now. It has been tough for her because she is basically bedridden.”

With a long road to recovery ahead of her and massive lifestyle changes to overcome because of the surgery – which may still escalate to an amputation – the family launched an appeal in July to raise an initial £40,000 for her future treatment, care and rehabilitation.

The limb-salvaging surgery saw 15cm of bone and the tumour removed from Isabelle’s right femur, as well as her knee.

The section of femur that had to be removed was replaced with a prosthetic bone and a prosthetic knee was fitted.

With more than £44,000 soon raised via a donation page, the target has gone up to £100,000.

The fund-raiser at Haverhill Leisure Centre on October 5 – called Swim for Isabelle – is being supported by West Suffolk Swimming Club, WaldenTRI (Isabelle is a member of both) and Abbeycroft Leisure.

Organisers say the funds raised will help Isabelle to pursue her dream of one day representing Team GB in triathlon and go towards a bespoke sports wheelchair, adapted bike, specialist coaching and essential home adaptations to make life easier for her after surgery.

Swimmers can choose to complete 400 metres, 800m or one mile. You can join the charity swim HERE