A COMMUNITY is rallying round a 10-year-old girl who is hoping to go to America for life-changing surgery.

Fundraisers are being organised to help Dunbar girl Macy Robertson, who was diagnosed with scoliosis – an abnormal twisting and curvature of the spine – aged six.

Her mum and dad, Nicky and Mark, are looking to raise £150,000 to take the youngster to New Jersey, where she would undergo Vertebral Body Tethering (VBT), which would see screws attached to the affected vertebrae and allow for continued growth and mobility of the spine.

READ MORE: Family's £150,000 bid for life-changing surgery for Macy

The family say it is the only procedure which will straighten Macy’s spine while allowing her to grow and remain flexible.

Dunbar Music School and the town’s secondary school are both doing their bit to add to the more than £64,500 already raised.

A cake sale was held by East Lothian Council, while a fundraiser was also held at Dunbar Garden Centre and a family orienteering day, organised by Venturing Out CIC, takes place at Yellowcraig Wood on January 15, at 10am.

Nicky, who works as a senior housing strategy officer with East Lothian Council, was touched by the generosity of members of the public and said there were about “20 or 30 things going on”.

She added: “It is absolutely fantastic – I honestly never expected any of this.

“Everybody has rallied round and people have had me in tears on many occasions. I just cannot believe it.

“It is not just the money but people’s time. It is a busy time of the year and we are very, very lucky and have got lovely friends and family.”

The music school, based at the town’s Bleachingfield Centre, was officially launched in October. It is holding a ceilidh, featuring music from the school’s talented teachers, as well as an auction, at the Strawberry Barn on January 20, 7-11pm.

Siobhan Grealy, who is a director and teacher, said: “We were originally going to hold a ceilidh for instrument funds.

“[But] we just felt it is such a difficult time of year to be raising money soon after Christmas and they need such a lot of help.

“It’s great our musicians will be playing and we can put on an event where we can have fun.

“If we can raise money for Macy then that would be great.

“I didn’t know about Macy’s condition but her little brother Louie is in the same year as my son and they have been to each other’s birthday parties.

“I think everybody was pretty shocked when they read the news and they are such a private family.

“It’s not something they published until they needed to and I think that is why the community has taken it to its heart.”

Meanwhile, Dunbar Grammar School’s charity committee is really keen to support the youngster, who is in P6 at Dunbar Primary School.

Pupils took a collection at the school’s Christmas concert.

Previously, Macy was wearing a brace 20 hours a day to prevent her condition from becoming worse, but she no longer uses it as her family felt that bracing was impacting on her emotional wellbeing.

To buy tickets for the ceilidh, go to www.facebook.com/dunbarmusicschool or to make a donation go to www.gofundme.com/fund-spine-surgery-for-macy