A LYTHAM diabetic mum who has suffered 80 operations in five years is now too ill to go to America for the treatment she desperately needs.

But fundraisers who have been trying all summer to raise £7,000 to pay for her trip are undaunted - they are now working towards bringing the treatment over here.

Their next event is a psychic show at Thornton's Rugby Tavern with 150 raffle prizes on August 25.

The plight of mother-of-two Elizabeth Holt, 37, of Mornington Road, spurred Blackpool clairvoyant Paula Paradaema to spearhead the fundraising campaign after reading a Citizen article.

Now wheelchair-bound, Elizabeth is unable to tolerate injections, suffering abscesses all over her body. But news of the latest American insulin pump and inhaler gave her hope of a normal life at last.

Her husband Robert, who gave up his business to look after his wife, said: "It's looking as though Liz will not now be able to travel to the States - she has developed kidney problems and her nervous system is going haywire. "But if we can raise £5,500 we'll be able to get the equipment sent here and we're hopeful of finding someone with the right expertise to administer it. If it's successful for Elizabeth it will pave the way for other people too."

Liz regularly travels as far afield as Cardiff and London to see specialists, while her daughter Zoe, 19, has to travel to Manchester for cystic fibrosis treatment.

Paula Paradaema said: "I'm determined to reach our goal of raising enough money for Liz's treatment by the end of this month. I'm deeply grateful to people like Basil Newby who has allowed us to collect in Funny Girls and his other clubs on Friday and Saturday nights, and to the Waterfront too."

Paula held her first charity show for Liz at Jack Diamond's Tangerine Club last month and at the weekend she persuaded Blackpool professional heavyweight boxer Matthew Ellis to tour shopping centres, where he sparred with visitors to help boost funds.

So far the fund has reached £2,400. The Rugby Tavern event has prizes ranging from cameras, radios, clocks, toys and show tickets to a magnum of champagne, and psychic sessions from Paula and fellow mediums. Tickets are £4.

Meanwhile, Paula is seeking more prize donations and a show venue in Lytham St Annes - call her on (01253) 344334 or write to her at 7 Romney Avenue, Blackpool, FY4 3AH. Donations should be made payable to the Elizabeth Holt Diabetes Fund.

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