LAURA Baxter’s mother Jacky has asked for Huntingdonshire to pray that her daughter will be well enough to have a potentially life-saving operation, after Hunts Post readers donated the �25,000 needed for surgery in just two weeks.

The 27-year-old, who was diagnosed with rare cancer pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) last year, has been in Addenbrooke’s Hospital since October 28, where she is being treated for an infection.

She hopes to find out later this week whether she will be able to travel to Belgium for surgery.

Yesterday (Tuesday), Mrs Baxter collected more than �1,000 that has been sent to The Hunts Post in the last week, which brings the Laura Baxter Fund close to �32,000 – with generous readers still donating.

Mrs Baxter said: “I just want to say thank you, and keep saying thank you, to the people who keep donating. We have had people donating from Belgium as well, including one sum of �1,000. Now we just have to pray that Laura gets better to have this operation.

“If they tried to operate now she would die but we are hoping for some news on Friday.”

Laura said: “I think it’s amazing that there are so many nice, good-hearted people that genuinely care for another person’s life and in such a selfless way.

“I should be saying loads more but am at a loss for words. I just want to say thank you to everyone.”

On her return from hospital, Laura will be able to move into a new home in St Ives for her and partner Wayne Cooper. They got the home through Huntingdonshire District Council’s Home Link scheme but Luminus, which owns the property, has redecorated the house for Laura.

Travel company Eurostar has offered Laura and Wayne free travel to Ghent University Hospital, where specialist PMP surgeon Dr Wim Ceelen will operate.

If Laura is not well enough to travel, her family is looking at ways of getting Dr Ceelen to Britain – which would cost more money.