This picture of a swimmer brings hope for all children diagnosed with leukaemia. And it is one that Hayley Welch's parents hardly dared hope they would see.

Three years ago, Linda and David Welch's world almost fell apart when they discovered their young daughter was suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

At one time, the six-year-old, from Vesper Walk, Huntington, York, would have stood little chance of survival.

But treatment for the disease, the commonest form of childhood leukaemia, is improving all the time and Hayley underwent three unpleasant but effective courses of chemotherapy at St James' Hospital in Leeds.

Evening Press readers may recall how she made a morale-boosting trip to Disney World in 1995, thanks to the generosity of York fundraisers who collected thousands of pounds.

Now, after 18 months in full remission and off all drugs, her hair has grown back thick and dark, she looks as healthy as any other child and loves nothing more than going swimming whenever she can.

And Hayley, now nine, is planning her own sponsored swim on Saturday, June 6, to raise money for the Candlelighters, to thank the staff at Jimmy's who restored her health.

She has been training at New Earswick Baths.

"She is feeling great," said Linda. "She has been off maintenance drugs for 18 months and just has to go back for a blood test every two months.

"We try not to think about it any more. It took over our life for such a long time. It seemed like it would never end. Now we are there - they do get over it. You can't describe how it feels."

Anyone wanting to sponsor Hayley should contact Mrs Welch on 01904 769720.

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