Brave Phoebe's 4,000-mile trip for life-saving op

Stars Haaland and Bruno back appeal for surgery refused by NHS

- By NEAL KEELING

HE has been her inspiration. Now Erling Haaland has sent a heartfelt message to a little girl whose zest for life has not diminished despite needing a liver transplant which the NHS will not carry out.

But today Phoebe Clarke is scheduled to have a potentially life-saving operation in Saudi Arabia after an astonishing crowdfunding campaign brought in almost £200,000 from well-wishers.

Until last autumn Phoebe enjoyed martial arts, swimming, basketball, and rugby. And driven by watching Manchester City’s number nine, she also played football for Broadheath Central under 9s, her local team in Altrincham.

But she has a rare liver cancer called hepatic angiosarcoma which was diagnosed in February last year.

Particularly aggressive, it can only be fully treated by surgically removing the affected areas; in Phoebe’s case every part of her remaining liver is cancerous. Phoebe - who has a twin brother, Eric - has had four rounds of chemotherapy to shrink her tumour.

Her only chance of long term survival is a liver transplant. But the NHS would not do it as the chances of her condition returning are considered too high.

Her parents, Matt Clarke and Lindsey Billington disagree and say, “she deserves a chance however slim that might be”.

They have raised just over £195,000 with a GoFundMe page and Phoebe is currently in Saudi Arabia where a living donor transplant is due to take place today.

It is a life-saving procedure where a portion of a healthy person's liver is removed and transplanted into a patient with end-stage liver disease, usually a family member or friend.