FUNDRAISERS are tantalizingly close to raising £100,000 needed to provide life-altering treatment for a brain damaged Kingswinford woman.

So far, £80,000 has been collected for 20-year-old Elle-Mae Davidson, who was tragically struck down with a major brain haemorrhage three-and-a-half years ago.

At the time she was a 16-year-old girl, with straight As and a dream of an Oxbridge university education, until her life changed forever.

She was given little, if no, chance of survival, but after spending five weeks in critical care, seven months in high dependency and the next 16 months in a children's rehabilitation centre in Surrey, she was back living at home.

Elle-Mae is now bound to her wheelchair, unable to walk or speak, but her family hope specialist stem cell treatment could dramatically improve her life.

Leah Davidson, Elle-Mae’s mum, said: “The main aim of the stem cell treatment is to repair the damaged parts of the brain.

“We know that it is readily available in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, and we are hoping to get Elle the treatment next year.

“As well as the initial £100,000 cost, there are also ongoing costs, as she will have to have addition treatment each year to achieve the full effect.

“It has absolutely helped people and poses no risk at all. Some have made great recoveries with it, but it has different effects from one person to another.

“However, it has achieved some quite successful outcomes and we hope it will have a great effect on Elle.”

After two-and-a-half years of fundraising by “Elle’s Angels” – a group of Elle-Mae’s family and friends – just £20,000 is needed reach the £100k target.

Leah said the support of her family and friends has been “amazing”, adding: “I don’t think I would have been able to get through it if it hadn’t been for them.

“None of them have ever let us down and have stood by us with everything we have gone through.”

The group’s latest fundraising event took place on Friday at Blakelands Country House, in Halfpenny Green, where 46 people enjoyed an afternoon of tea and cakes in the South Staffordshire sunshine.

Louise Evans, Leah’s best friend and fundraising organiser, said: “It was a fantastic afternoon and I cannot thank Paul and the staff at Blakelands enough.

“We have a Facebook page and as soon as I put that we have a fundraising event coming up people snap up the tickets straight away.

“Many of the people hadn’t seen Elle since our tea party at Blakelands last year, but no one can believe how well she is doing and how much she has improved.”

Leah said: “Elle is improving a lot, and has come on a long way. She eats full time now and her communication has come on leaps and bounds. She can now respond with her eyes and make decisions for herself.

“But our next big aim is to raise enough money to get Elle the stem cell treatment.”

On June 4, Leah, Louise and two of their friends will attempt to conquer Britain’s three highest mountains – Ben Nevis, Snowdon and Scafell Pike – in 24 hours.

Louise said: “There are 20 of us are doing it together for a variety of charities, but the four of us are doing it to raise the money for Elle.

“In a way I am looking forward and quite excited, but I know it is going to be really hard. However, I have done a lot of training, so hopefully it should all pay off.”

Leah added: “People have died doing it! We know it will be a tough one, but Elle’s been through much worse than what we will encounter.

“What she has had to overcome is massive, so surely we can overcome three mountains.”

Elle’s Angels next major fundraising event will be a black-tie ball, including a three course meal, auction, raffle, 80s band and a DJ.

It will take place on September 9 at the Park Hall Hotel in Wolverhampton, where more than 500 people attended last year, raising thousands of pounds for Elle-Mae.

Tickets to the ball, costing £50, can be bought from Louise by calling 07780 703201, or to support Leah and Louise on their three peaks challenge, visit www.gofundme.com/ellemae-3peaks2016