IN MARCH the future looked bleak for little Reece Turnbull.

The four-year-old from Rawcliffe had been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, to the shock and dismay of his family.

Reece himself faced a gruelling schedule of biopsies, surgery, chemotherapy and daily medication.

The youngster's courage in the face of his trials inspired a flurry of fundraising. His mum, Joanne, 25, and grandma, Sandra, ran Race For Life in July, only hours after Reece underwent an operation in St James's Hospital, Leeds, to remove his tumour, known as a rhabdomyosarcoma, which was found close to his bladder.

Now a delighted Joanne, of Rawcliffe Grange, said she had received the news she had been praying for - Reece's tumour had gone.

"He had a scan about two weeks ago and the results have come back showing that the tumour has gone and it's all been successful," she said.

"He'll still have to have regular check-ups to make sure that everything is in order, but his medication has halved and his feeding tube has gone.

"He doesn't stop eating now, it's so nice seeing him and thinking back to what he was like six months ago. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel now."

Joanne gave up work to care for Reece but is starting a degree in rehabilitation, inspired by her son's recovery. "It's something I'd always wanted to do, but Reece has helped make up my mind," she said.

Earlier this year, York City Knights rugby players Chris Langley and Craig Forsyth shaved off their hair to raise money to send Reece to Disneyland Paris.

On Friday, Knights chairman Roger Dixon announced Reece's remarkable recovery at the club's end-of--year awards ceremony.

Chris was presented with a top try-scorer award, which he dedicated to Reece.

He said: "Reece is a fantastic lad and we've tried to get involved to help keep his spirits up. For such a small lad to have had to be in and out of hospital takes it out of not only him, but his mum as well, and I'm over the moon for them both."

Joanne said she was very grateful to the rugby club.

She said: "Everyone at York City Knights have been fantastic, especially Chris Langley, so a big thank-you to him."

Updated: 10:16 Wednesday, October 20, 2004