FRIENDS of a brave teenager suffering from Crohn's Disease have started a fundraising campaign to give her the holiday of a lifetime.

Amy O'Connor, 14, of Blackburn Lane, Bacup, travels to America in November with her mum and sister after being nominated as one of the bravest patients at Booth Hall Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, this year.

But her dream holiday was made even more special when friends decided to raise funds for some spending money.

Amy's godmother, Michelle Nuttall, of Peel Drive, Bacup, decided to make the holiday a memorable one by starting a fundraising campaign.

Under her stage name Billie Jo Louise, Michelle has organised several charity nights in Halifax and Manchester.

She said: "I am a singer at the weekends so when I went to the clubs where people know me I collected for Amy and everyone has been really generous.

"We have raised about £350 so far but my target is £1,500. We will carry on right up until they are due to go at the beginning of November."

"Debs is my best friend and her children, Amy and Billie-Jo, are my goddaughters, so I have seen everything they have been through.

"When I heard they were going to America I wanted to give them some extra money to have a holiday of a lifetime."

Amy spent a year at the children's hospital and almost died last December when she took a turn for the worse.

She has had Crohn's Disease since the age of seven and had to have five biopsies when she was five years old.

ItThe disease also means Amy has to be fed for eight hours every night through a drip which connects to her stomach and when she was at her most ill she had to be fed through a tube to her heart.

Mum Debra said: "It is a really nice thing to do to raise money for Amy and it touches me. At the moment Amy is doing fine.

"We need to keep her well now because we fly away on November 1 and fly back on November 11 and she needs to be well.

"Even though doctors and nurses will be going with us they want to make sure she is as well as possible for the journey.

"She's counting the days now until we go. She's really looking forward to it."