A city family will soon be able to make their four-year-old daughter's "dream a reality" after raising nearly £30,000 for a vital piece of equipment.

Grace Howes was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type one, when she was just nine months old and her family were told to "go and make memories" because she wouldn't live past the age of two.

Norwich Evening News: Grace Howes, pictured right, with her two-year-old sister Annie Howes Grace Howes, pictured right, with her two-year-old sister Annie Howes (Image: Luke Howes)Her family set up a JustGiving page with a target of £25,000 in order to give Grace a better quality of life by installing a hydro-therapy pool at their bungalow in Thorpe St Andrew.

After months of hard work and fundraising the family has smashed its target, raising a total of £28,861 to date.

Norwich Evening News: From left to right: Two-year-old Annie Howes with dad, Luke Howes and mum Rebecca Howes, with four-year-old GraceFrom left to right: Two-year-old Annie Howes with dad, Luke Howes and mum Rebecca Howes, with four-year-old Grace (Image: Luke Howes)READ MORE: Neighbours confused as only ONE side of city pavement is resurfaced

Grace's dad, Luke Howes, said: "We're feeling overwhelmed by it all really.

"Grace is so excited to have this and we can't thank everyone enough who has given up their time and money to make her dream a reality."

Norwich Evening News: In total, the family's JustGiving page has raised nearly £30,000 for GraceIn total, the family's JustGiving page has raised nearly £30,000 for Grace (Image: Luke Howes)"It came at a great time, as Grace had her gastrostomy operation last week to have a feeding port put in her stomach - so it was a tough week.

"Grace's condition constricts her in so many ways so the pool will give her that freedom in so many ways."

Norwich Evening News: Grace, four, suffers from spinal muscular atrophy type oneGrace, four, suffers from spinal muscular atrophy type one (Image: Luke Howes)