FRIENDS and family of Largs gran Elaine Maltby are joining forces this week to try and clear the final hurdle for her third session of cancer treatment.

Elaine, who is receiving life-saving private treatment for eye cancer, needs another £12,000 to reach the £120,000 mark that will fund the next visit to the private hospital in England, with each costing £40,000.

Close friend Hollie Hodge has organised a race night on Friday, with all proceeds going towards Elaine’s fund.

More than £2,000 has been raised already from the event - but Hollie is looking to make enough to secure the third treatment.

She said: “Elaine’s daughter Jenna is my best friend so I’ve known the family for years. I just wanted to help in any way I could.

“The plan is for ten races with 12 horses in each race, with up to five people paying to own each horse and every winner receiving a prize.

“On the night myself and Jenna will be getting together and uploading the races onto the event page and then announcing the winners.

“It will be good fun for a great cause."

All of the prizes for the event have been donated by local businesses and Hollie says she is grateful for their support.

She said: “The firms have been so kind and really generous.

"Prizes include everything from dental treatments to sunglasses and beauty products, while we have lots of vouchers from restaurants too.

“We are delighted with the amount raised so far. A few people have bought several horses but even one entry gets Elaine a step closer.”

Hollie says that once restrictions are lifted further then friends and family of Elaine will be out and about fundraising even more.

She said: “If this race night goes well then we will certainly do another one and look at other ways to raise money.

“We will move mountains to get Elaine to her ultimate target of £240,000.

“She is a wonderful mother to three beautiful girls and an amazing nana too. She needs more time with her amazing family - and her family need more time with her.”

Elaine this week thanked the community for their continued support.

She said: “I am all set for treatment number three. The oncologist team at Southampton say that I will have more chemosaturation therapy in early June, all being well.

“My funds don’t cover the costs for this yet, so we will keep fundraising and hope once everything opens back up we can arrange events.

“Please keep donating if you can. I really need people's help more than ever and I'd like to say thanks again to everyone for their support.”

More information about the event, including where to enter, can be found at www.facebook.com/events/468936421063054