A fund-raising campaign is under way to help a Papamoa girl get to New York for a life-changing operation.
Zahnee Campbell's family is still waiting to hear if their bid for government funding from the Special High Cost Treatment Pool - money set aside for one-off treatments not otherwise funded bythe public health system - has been successful.
But her mother, Jade, has already started fund-raising for additional money needed for the trip, in the hope the surgery funding will be granted.
It is hoped that Zahnee, 5, will receive surgery to correct eye damage due to a rare extensive facial vascular hemangioma which she had as a baby and a toddler.
The long-term effects of the tumour have left her with problems with the positioning of her eye, called an amblyopia squint.
If granted, the funding will cover only the operation - travel and accommodation, rehabilitation and initial consultation costs must be met by the family.
Zahnee's story is to feature on Campbell Live after a crew visited the family on Monday, which Jade hopes will raise awareness and fundraising.
Zahnee's school, St Thomas More Catholic School, will hold a mufti day and sausage sizzle next Friday to raise money, Aquinas College has a mufti day in the works, and Jade challenges other schools to do the same.
The family has already received community support - Mount Maunganui New World has donated $1500 of groceries for a raffle.
A recipe book raising money for Zahnee will also go on sale at Mount Maunganui New World, and a cake and craft stall will be held at St Thomas More Catholic Church on Sunday.
