A YOUNG mum crippled with back pain is appealing for help to fund an operation which could transform her life.

Samantha Butcher, a former fitness, kick-boxing and yoga enthusiast, now walks with a stick but has been refused a £30,000 Spinal Cord Stimulator which could alleviate her agonising symptoms.

The 33-year-old mum-of-two takes a daily cocktail of painkillers and fears her health and the well-being of her family are at risk.

Now she has reluctantly started a fund raising campaign to privately fund the treatment, which stops pain signals being transmitted to the brain.

"I'm not the sort of person who usually asks for help but I don't know what else to do" said Sam, a hairdresser who is now unable to work.

"I love to be active and I have worked all my life. I was devastated when I was told I couldn't have the treatment."

Sam, who lives in West Moors with self-employed husband, Luke, and daughters Hollie, nine, and six-year-old Jaymie, said her family is suffering as a result of her chronic pain.

"They are all fantastic but my children are looking after me and I want to look after them" she added.

Sam has had two operations since back problems started when she was pregnant with her second child but has been left with severe nerve pain.

She has rods and pins in her back and is now pinning all her hopes on the Spinal Cord Stimulator, which would be inserted into the epidural space.

Sam's sister, Hannah, is behind the fund raising efforts and so far around £1,600 has been raised through a car wash, cake sale and other small events.

The family hope to bulk of the money needed can be raised at a Family Fun Day planned for July.

The event will be held at Homeland Farm, the location of the Ashley Heath car boot sales, on Saturday July 25 and offers of help have flooded in, many from total strangers.

"I can't believe how good people have been" said Hannah. "We've already got bouncy castles, pony rides, birds of prey and some wonderful raffle prizes including a holiday."

Sam stressed the appeal is "the last resort" and stressed: "If a miracle happens and I get better in some other way I will be delighted to repay every penny to those who have donated to help me."

Anyone who wishes to help Sam can do so through her GoFundMe page at gofundme.com/sz94myg