Meet our Little Stars
Meet some of our Little Stars from previous years
Morgandie Harrold
When she was just six weeks old, Morgandie, from Pwllheli in north Wales, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called neuroblastoma.
She started being very sick and was rushed to hospital, where doctors found a tumour the size of a small apple in her tummy.
Morgandie, who is now two, initially underwent five rounds of chemotherapy at Great Ormond Street Hospital followed by seven hours of surgery to remove the tumour.
Her mum Lyndsay said: “The surgery was deemed a complete success and whilst Morgandie will be scanned very carefully every three months, she now thankfully has a 90 per cent chance that she will have no further problems.”
Over the last two years, Lyndsay has run Race for Life to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Morgandie's story has appeared in the local papers and in a national magazine to help to raise awareness of children's cancers.
“The Little Star Awards were a wonderful inspiration to us all as a family in Morgandie’s early stages of treatment,” added Lyndsay.
“Just after diagnosis, we heard the story of a little girl with the same type of cancer, and how she was awarded a Little Star, and it gave us all something positive to focus on. The awards are fantastic for really giving a morale boost to children and their families who have encountered cancer.”
Ryan Mathers
Ryan, from Gateshead, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in August 2007.
Ryan was just three years old when he was admitted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital, where he spent the next nine months undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
His treatment is due to continue until later in 2010, but he is now back at home and has started school.
His mum Andrea said she was “in complete shock” when he was diagnosed.
“I really feared the worst but Ryan has coped with everything brilliantly and is doing well. He is such a brave little boy," she explained.
“The Little Stars Awards are a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness of childhood cancers and a great way to recognise the bravery of the youngsters.”