AS Jodie Vasquez faces her toughest fight to date, the generosity of the Cumbrian community has left her family stunned.

The 25-year-old is critically ill in hospital in Newcastle after life-threatening complications following surgery last month.

Jodie, from Currock, has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a rare condition which affects the connective tissue in her body and has caused her internal organs to fail.

Despite serious health problems, in the 10 years since diagnosis she has worked tirelessly to fundraise first for the Sick Children’s Trust - which provides home-from-home support for the families of children in hospital - and latterly for Carlisle’s Eden Valley Hospice.

Jodie spends time at Jigsaw, the children’s hospice based in Durdar Road, for respite care.

She has raised more than £40,000 to date.

Two weeks ago, on their birthday, Jodie’s twin sister Emma launched an online fundraising appeal asking people to donate to Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s only children’s hospice, in support for her poorly sister.

An initial total of £1,000 was smashed in under two hours, and has now topped £5,300.

Emma told the News & Star: “The fundraising means a lot to us because it means a lot to Jodie and my mum.

“They have worked so hard to raise the money they already have for Jigsaw. The support the hospice give them both is incredible.

“So while Jodie is so poorly and unable to help others, I really want to do that on her behalf and to say thank you to Jigsaw for not only looking after my sister, but providing support for my mum.

“My mum is the strongest woman I know and she is Jodie’s hero.

“For the community to step up and raise so much money when Jodie can’t is simply incredible. We are so grateful.”

More than 390 people have donated so far. To donate, click here.