An appeal to give a little Nepalese girl life-saving surgery has reached its target.

Thousands of pounds have poured in over Christmas to boost the Little Sam Appeal, set up by Witney natural health therapist John Fox.

It now means that dates are being fixed to bring five-year-old Sam - full name Samjhana - to England for surgery in the spring.

The youngster was born with a serious jaw condition which makes it almost impossible for her to eat. Complex surgery, unavailable in her own country, will correct the disability. Mr Fox said delightedly: "What a way to finish the year! We can now go ahead and fix everything.

Mr Fox met Sam and her family when trekking in the Himalayas earlier this year. He was so struck by her plight that he was determined to do something.

Mr Fox praised the Oxford Mail's sister paper, the Witney Gazette, for its help.

He and fellow co-ordinator Anna Shepley, of the Witney Natural Health Clinic in Corn Street, have been putting up Witney Gazette Little Sam posters in shops and medical centres across the county. A week before Christmas, the appeal account at Witney's Barclays Bank branch stood at just under £7,000. Within days it reached £12,000, thanks to a donation of £787 from Witney's White Dove Centre and three anonymous donations totalling £4,500.

Mr Fox said: "Now we are getting down to the business of arranging for Sam and her dad Mukti to come over here."

Story date: Wednesday 29 December

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