Katie Papworth, 17, was diagnosed with metastatic medulloblastoma when she was just 11.

It is a form of cancer which affects many more children than it does adults.

For 18 months the youngster had to have surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy after the malignant brain tumour spread into her spine.

She survived, but was unable to walk or speak for months.

After making a recovery during her early teens, she remained cancer-free until November 2011 when she was again diagnosed with the condition. This time it was confined to her spine.

The treatment for a second bout of cancer is far more aggressive, meaning Katie, from Westerton near Bearsden, faces an even longer recovery period this time.

She is unable to walk on her own, although the tumour is reducing in size and she is responding well to treatment.

The past six years have been incredibly difficult for Katie, but the one thing that has kept her going is her friends and the dream to one day go to New York with them, fulfilling a life's ambition.

It was this dream that kept Katie motivated to overcome her condition and helped with the loneliness she had to endure in hospital – two months of which was spent in isolation.

She said: "I've always loved New York, just from things I'd seen on TV and on DVDs. It just looks so bright and exciting. It seems such a fun place."

Katie lives with mum Trish, 39, dad Richard, 40, and brothers three-year-old Evan and six-month-old Bryn.

She hopes to take her friends Lauren Gallagher and Alison McKellar, both 16, to New York with her.

Lauren has cerebral palsy and also uses a wheelchair. The trio are good friends and all attended Boclair Academy.

They need around £4000 to fund the trip and insurance – and they reached the halfway mark with a fundraising race night at Oliver's Bistro in Drumchapel that brought in £2000.

Before being diagnosed for a second time, Katie had been able to walk again with a walking aide and regained a lot of the independence a teenage girl should have.

She even managed to sit and pass five of her standard grades, despite missing so much school.

Katie has to use a wheelchair following the surgery on her spine, which has really affected her left leg.

She is working very hard at physio and is determined to dance at her 18th birthday party in February.

Mum Trish said: "Katie is adamant that she will dance at her 18th birthday and I wouldn't put it past her.

"She has a lot of work ahead of her but she can do it with help from family, doctors and her carers Madeleine and Gillian, who have been brilliant.

"Katie has always dreamed of going to New York.

"Her bedroom has a New York theme, she knows all the landmarks and she's a girl that just loves to shop."

The race night was supported by businesses in the local community.

Artist Scott Strachan donated some of his prints and there was also a visit from River City star Pamela Byrne, who plays Hayley.

Trish added: "We think we're over halfway there now to pay for the trip to New York and we're planning for another event soon."

If you would like to help Katie reach her target by donating items for auction at the next event, contact pap worthpatricia@gmail.com

stef.lach@heraldandtimes.co.uk