SISTERS separated by half a planet might never cuddle each other again – after doctors gave one of them just six months to live.

Michelle Lovell and sister Tracey Gardner were born only 15 months apart and have always been close, so when doctors discovered three tumours in Tracey’s brain all Michelle wanted to do was take her little sister in her arms.

But Tracey moved to Perth, Australia, eight years ago when she got a job as a nurse and Michelle, a working mum-of-four, cannot afford the £1,000 flight to get out to see her.

“The thought of never being able to wrap my arms around her, and the thought of never being able to see her again, I can’t just describe that, “ said 45-year-old Michelle, who lives in Blunsdon.

“I was devastated when she moved to Australia but I thought we had time. There was Skype and telephones and emails and we’d have time to see each other in the future. Now we don’t have that time.

“It’s just so upsetting. All I want to do is hold her tight and tell her how much I love her.

“It’s just not being able to see her and to help her.

“It’s scary what she’s going through but I know she’s strong, she’s going to fight it as hard as she can.”

Michelle once again found hope when a friend she made through Facebook, Leanna Benjamin, read about what had happened, and set up a dedicated fundraising page to raise money to reunite the sisters.

Michelle said: “Leanna and I both have ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) which is a debilitating illness which affects my mobility, and we met through a page on Facebook.

“We got chatting and it went from there.

“I posted on Facebook when I found out about my sister and she saw it, and I just couldn’t believe it when I woke up and saw that she had set up a fundraising page and a Facebook page for me so I could help my sister.

“I couldn’t believe that somebody who I know only as a name on a computer would go to this effort for me.”

More than £200 has already been donated to the cause to help reunite the sisters.

Michelle said: “I can’t believe that people I don’t even know are helping me to help my sister and being so generous. I can’t believe that people can be so wonderful.

“I am just overwhelmed by it all.”

To find out more about the appeal visit www.facebook.com/ASW14. To help the cause, donate online through www.gofundme.com/ebtxr4.