A SICKENED dad has told how mindless bigots hijacked a Facebook page set up to raise money for his young daughter as she battles cancer.

Yobs left a string of sectarian messages on the social media site after Chris McKenna revealed Celtic captain Scott Brown had donated a signed top to help pay for three-year-old Rebecca to be taken to America for treatment as the youngster is battling stage four, high-risk neuroblastoma.

Her parents Chris and Victoria are trying to raise cash to send her to America for a drug trial which could decrease her chance of relapse.

Glasgow Times:

But they were left horrified to see sectarian comments left on the RaiseforRebecca Facebook page after the family asked Celtic captain Scott Brown to donate a signed shirt for a fundraising auction.

One person wrote on the post picturing Brown’s shirt: “I wouldn’t give that b****** 50p,” while several other bigots spouted sectarian abuse.

Chris, 37, told our sister title The Gazette: “There is no excuse for it. I was absolutely sickened by what was said.

Glasgow Times:

“I’m a Rangers fan and have been going to watch them every week for 28 years and I just thought this was completely embarrassing.

“How can anyone leave comments like that on a child’s charity page?

“I looked at some of these people and they had children in their profile pictures. It’s an awful example to set.

“Scott Brown was an absolute gentleman when I spoke to him. He lost his sister to cancer, so this is just disgusting.”

Glasgow Times: Rebecca and her dad

Rebecca first fell ill in January after complaining of pain in her left leg and of an inflamed ear, before doctors delivered the devastating diagnosis just three weeks later.

By the time she was diagnosed, primary tumours were in her stomach and adrenal glands, just above her kidneys, and the disease then spread to her bone marrow and bones.

Rebecca has gone through chemotherapy sessions and will continue receiving treatment for the next 12 months or more.

It is hoped that groundbreaking treatment in America will give her the best chance of a positive outcome.

could prove crucial.

will offer hope to hEven after that long process, the chances of the cancer returning will be extremely high if she is not able to fly across the Atlantic to go through the trial.

“I haven’t got time for these bigots. Hopefully that is the end of it now.”

The people who posted the comments, who were came from right across Scotland, were immediately removed from the page and the posts were deleted.

Following the bigoted comments on the charity page, Chris is keen to thank thousands of other people who have shown their support for Rebecca.

On Sunday, a Celtic versus Rangers charity football match was organised by Park Mains High School student Shay McMahon, which raised around £1,200.

And next Sunday, a mass walk across the Erskine Bridge will take place to raise awareness of Rebecca’s fight against a disease which affects around 100 youngsters in the UK each year.

More than £50,000 has now been raised for the youngster and Chris said he was extremely grateful for all the donations.

Chris added: “We really appreciate everyone’s generosity.

“It’s been amazing the amount of support we are getting from so many people. We are getting around 50 or 60 messages a day with people offering to do things to raise money.”

To make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/raiseforrebecca.