"I am begging people for my life."

Those are the heart-wrenching words of a Hampshire mum who faces a race against time to raise £30,000 for life-saving surgery.

Leah Boxall has a rare condition that causes her head to sink into her neck.

The mother of one's condition is so severe that she must constantly wear a brace to stop her neck from dislocating.

The former horse rider now has seven weeks to raise all of the money needed for her lifesaving specialist surgery unavailable on NHS.

Leah's neck is not strong enough to hold up her head and her brain stem is slowly being crunched by the pressure from her skull.

She received a cash injection last week after hundreds people turned out to support her campaign for the life-saving treatment.

More than 200 people turned up to support the 34-year-old for a quiz and auction evening raising £7,309.14, which now brings her total to £28,808 of the £60,000 needed.

The event was organised by Leah's friends Cheryl Arscott and Emma Heywood however Leah was unable to attend to her deteriorating health.

"It made me very sad that I was not able to attend, I received messages from people I have known for years to say they would be attending but I wrote a thank you note and it was nice that they were able to have a nice time."

Leah has been unable to leave her bed for three weeks and fears that her life is at serious risk if she does not undergo the surgery - which is unavailable in the UK - as soon as possible.

"Its is so difficult because I am essentially begging for people for my life and I literally owe my life to the people who have donated and helped.

"I will never forget the people who have supported me or the kindness of people - it is all very overwhelming," she said.

Which means that the brain stem compression could be fatal and this is why she claims the surgery is imperative.

After a previous consultation Leah was given five months to raise the finances for the surgery which is currently set to take place on April 25.

Leah by her partner Tom and hopefully her 12-year-old daughter Caitlyn will need travel to Barcelona for the surgery which will take between six and 12 hours.

"My biggest fear is the panic of the situation, things are getting worse and I am scared that if I have to push the date backwards."

Leah said that the surgeons in Barcelona were intending to operate on the neck and spine during one procedure but after further analysis deemed it too much of a high risk.

To donate the Leah's Lifeline visit: www.gofundme.com/leahs-surgery-fund.