Brave Ellie in running for award

4:50am Wednesday 9th April 2008

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THE proud mother of a toddler who fought a two-year battle against cancer has nominated her "little survivor" in the Child Of The Year category of our 2008 Community Pride awards.

Only two weeks after her first birthday in June 2005, little Ellie Dickenson was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - a cancer of cells in the bone marrow - after she was taken to the doctor with a temperature, bad hip and loss of appetite.

After initially undergoing chemotherapy, the cancer was so widespread that doctors put Ellie on a more intensive course of treatment.

During the chemotherapy brave Ellie, of Rawcliffe, York, would spend seven days in St James's Hospital in Leeds and then seven days at home, but mum Joanne said Ellie battled through her treatment with a smile on her face.

"None of it was a nice time, but she coped as well as she could do," Joanne said. "She just turned one when she was diagnosed and Ellie was the first candidate in Leeds to try a new form of intensive treatment. It was a very hard time, but Ellie battled on so bravely.

"She went through a lot at such an early age, but all the way through her treatment she just kept on smiling. She has made me very proud."

After a two-year fight, doctors finally said that Ellie was in remission. Joanne wanted to mark Ellie's bravery by nominating her for The Press's awards.

"Ellie has been so brave in fighting her leukaemia," Joanne said. "She is a little survivor and that is why she deserves this award."

To celebrate the news that Ellie is now in remission, family friends have raised £1,800 through fundraising to send the three-year-old on a trip to Disney Land to meet Cinderella.

"She is into princesses and dressing up. She loves Cinderella," said Joanne.

"She knows where she is going and she is very excited, but I have to explain to her every day that she's not going today, she's going in September."

We still need more nominees for the Child Of The Year category. If you want to nominate a young unsung hero from our community then just fill in the coupon available via the link below. Send us a (non-returnable) picture of your nominee if possible, plus any other useful information (no more than two sides of A4 paper, also non-returnable).

Send all applications to Community Pride Awards, Paula Homer, The Press, 76-86 Walmgate, York, YO1 9YN. Alternatively, you can email us at editor@thepress.co.uk.

Local businesses seeking to support the awards can phone Nigel Briggs on 01904 567168, or email nigel.briggs@ycp.co.uk