A RECORD breaking fancy dress extravaganza is to be held in Suffolk to raise money in the name of a brave toddler.Sophie Harper is just two years old but after being diagnosed with a brain tumour at 19 months she has endured an eight and a half hour lifesaving operation, braved seven other operations along with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and four months in isolation.

A RECORD breaking fancy dress extravaganza is to be held in Suffolk to raise money in the name of a brave toddler.

Sophie Harper is just two years old but after being diagnosed with a brain tumour at 19 months she has endured an eight and a half hour lifesaving operation, braved seven other operations along with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and four months in isolation.

She has been in and out of intensive care, picked up one infection after another - but has continued to astound her doctors with her fighting spirit. Now out of Addenbrooke's Hospital where she has had most of her treatment she cannot walk, talk or eat.

The tot's plight has inspired her Suffolk granddad, John Huggins to organise a world record attempt for the largest gathering of people in fancy dress which will take place on August 19, following a sponsored walk of about two miles around Southwold where fisherman Mr Huggins lives.

All money raised will go to the Sick Children's Trust, which provided Sophie's family with six months of accommodation at Addenbrooke's, East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) and Cancer Research UK.

Sophie's mother Anna Huggins, 27, said: “What my dad is doing is really nice because I don't know how we would've managed it without those charities' support.

“I think it's important to give something back to the charities for them to continue because I know what a difference it's made for us being down there for such a long time and being able to stay together as a family.”

The family now lives in Norwich and Sophie has a five-year-old older brother, Oliver.

Registration is essential to take part in the fundraising event. Local registration evenings will be held in The Red Lion, Southwold, from 7pm on July 2 and July 25.

Otherwise, or to help with fundraising, call Mr Huggins on 07768 556106, e-mail john_huggins@btconnect.com, or go to www.sophiesworldrecord.org .