A BEST-SELLING Black Country author has joined a community campaign to raise cash for a little girl battling cancer.

Lower Gornal based Miranda Dickinson, author of Sunday Times bestsellers including Fairytale of New York and Take a Look at Me Now, will be at a fundraiser taking place at her favourite coffee shop - Cafe CC in Kingswinford - in aid of Holly Blossom Hutchings who has kidney cancer.

The four-year-old’s mum Sarah has had to give up work to care for her daughter while she undergoes gruelling chemotherapy treatment so friends and relatives have been digging deep to raise funds to help ease the financial burden on the family.

A number of fundraisers have already been organised by kind-hearted Kingswinford folk - and another big bash is set to take place on Saturday June 17 from 11am until 5pm.

Christine Hutchings, owner of Cafe CC in Market Street and Holly’s grandmother, has organised a family fun day which will see romantic fiction novelist Miranda, who grew up in Kingswinford, raffling off a chance for one lucky fan to become a character in her next book.

The winner of the prize draw will be written into Miranda's as yet untitled ninth novel, which is due out next May, and they'll also be mentioned in the acknowledgements in the book.

She said: "It's something I don't do often but I wanted to do something really special to help Holly (pictured below) and her lovely family.

Dudley News: Holly Blossom Hutchings

"I’m also donating copies of my books to be sold on the day and all money will go to the appeal. And if readers have copies of my books they would like me to sign, I’ll happily do this for a donation to Holly’s fund.

"I’ve been good friends with Holly’s grandmother and aunts for several years and really wanted to help. They are such a special family. Cancer has touched my family – most recently taking my dad last year – so I’m determined to do anything I can to fight the disease wherever possible.

"Holly is a lovely little girl and a real fighter, so I hope by offering this special prize we can raise lots of money to support her and her family."

The fundraising event for Holly will also include face-painters, mascots, live music, hot dogs, ice cream, cakes, a plant stall, tombola and another raffle offering prizes including a week-long stay at a villa in Spain, a golf day, facial and clothing vouchers and chance to drive a Mini for a weekend.

Christine said: "Hopefully it will be a big success. Everything we sell will go to the Crowdfunding page for Holly. She's got to have another six months of chemotherapy so it's going to be a very long and hard battle."

Tickets for the raffle are on sale at Cafe CC.

Donations to help Holly and her family can be made online at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/HollyBlossom