MMA fighter Stevie Ray raises £100,000 for daughter's brain surgery

Seven-year-old Myla Ray has a condition that can cause up to 100 seizures a day.

The daughter of an MMA fighter from Fife has received support from across the globe as she prepares to receive brain surgery.

Seven-year-old Myla Ray has frontal lobe epilepsy and cortical dysplasia, meaning she’s constantly in and out of hospital.

Her dad, Scottish MMA star Stevie Ray, launched a fundraising bid to pay for private treatment and more than £100,000 has already been donated.

The money raised includes a £10,000 donation from UFC president Dana White and £1,000 from Outlander star Sam Heughan.

Stevie told STV News: “When it first started, the multiple seizures, during the Covid pandemic, she started going really thin, you could see her ribs, she had bruises from head to toe because the seizure can happen at any point.

“Especially as she gets older and she has to deal with seizures her whole life, she’ll never be able to drive a car, I don’t think she’ll even go in the bath without somebody watching her.

“We’re hopeful that this surgery is successful and it gives Myla a much better quality of life and us as a whole family.”

Myla in hospital.

Myla has become drug resistant, meaning surgery is now the only option to make the seizures stop.

The Ray family had to resort to looking at private treatment due to NHS waiting times.

Stevie added: “I can’t really put it into words how thankful we are for the love and support that has been given – from celebrities to strangers to people who know Myla and people that know me and my wife, and people worldwide, so we are so thankful.”

You can donate to Myla’s fundraising appeal here.

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