A GROUP of friends are tackling Mount Snowdon to raise money for a three-year-old Wrexham girl who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Aria Hodgkiss, of Rhostyllen, received the heartbreaking news on May 4 – the day of her third birthday – that she has an operable inoperable tumour sitting in her brain stem - known as a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).

Her devastated family has been told she has between nine and 18 months to live.

Aria’s uncle, Neil, said: “You never ever believe it’s going to happen to you or your family. It’s absolutely devastating for the whole family.”

To raise money for little Aria, and her family, Daniel Smith, a local man whose daughter goes to the same childminers at Aria, will lead a 30-strong party up Mount Snowdon on June 5.

Daniel said: "We just want to help give Aria the best possible time without any kind of financial strain. Anyone who wants to join us is more than welcome.

"This has really hit home given she attends the same childminders as my little girl, Zariah. Such utterly devastating news.

"Please share as widely as possible and donate whatever you can. We aren't the fittest so climbing Snowdon will be a big challenge for us."

The fundraising page states: “Let's raise as much money as we can to help give Aria and her family the best possible time left with her and take the financial burden away.”

It has so far raised nearly £1,000 and can be donated to here.