With a little help from her friends, Taqueena Trott will soon undergo the latest challenge to face the brave 11-year-old.

Having to fight all her life against illness, Taqueena has overcome spina bifida, where bones are not formed properly, and now faces the ordeal of a kidney transplant.

But, according to her school principal Mrs. Dorothy Williams, Taqueena never complains and is a "fantastic example'' to everyone.

Taqueena attends the Francis Patton School where children helped to raise $500, through a bake sale, to help towards her treatment in Boston. The school also contributed another $500.

In addition, the Parent Teachers Association has given $1,000 and will given another $1,000 soon to help with the cost of tuition fees when Taqueena is in hospital.

The money was handed over during a school assembly where Taqueena's mother Mrs. Karen Trott was on hand to watch.

"I was really touched. They told me they were doing something, but I thought a bake sale would raise a few hundred dollars. This was overwhelming,'' said Mrs Trott.

She said she did not know exactly when her daughter would undergo the transplant, but in December she goes onto the emergency list which means Taqueena could be spending Christmas in a Boston hospital.

"Taqueena takes everything in her stride and never complains,'' added her mother.

Mrs. Williams said Taqueena was a "fantastic example for everyone'' and had never known her to complain.

"She is a real trooper. She leaves us three times a week for dialysis, but you would not even know. She complains about nothing.'' BEAR HUG -- Francis Patton PTA vice-president Mr. Stephen Emery; Taqueena's mother Mrs Karen Trott; school counsellor Mrs Ivena Laurenco; pupils Je'Cal O'Mara and Tanisha Manders, who presented the money to help with Taqueena's treatment; and principal Mrs Dorothy Williams gather round Taqueena as she clutches her teddy bear.