A BRAVE little girl who has fought a rare cancer for more than two years has been nominated as a Young Champion.

Eight-year-old Aalish Naylor was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in December 2015 and underwent gruelling chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Her parents Jo and Martin have since been told her chances of survival are slim and are focussing on giving their daughter the best life they can.

Aalish has been nominated in the Chronicle’s Young Champion awards for her strength, courage and determination.

Her mum Jo, 41, of Hawthorne Crescent, Dodworth, said: “For Aalish to be nominated is amazing. We’ve never had anything like this before. I’m speechless.

“Aalish is not doing too badly at the moment. She has been having an oral chemotherapy which I have been giving her at home. It’s been given to her at a reduced rate to try and keep her out of hospital and it’s positive that this particular chemo was doing what they (the doctors) wanted it to do, and better.

“The consultant seems pleased with her and couldn’t find anything untoward. She is going to reassess Aalish to see what’s happening inside which will include a bone marrow test, two MRI scans and a bone scan. Then we’ll go in for the results.

“It’s frightening and I’m scared, I always am. I’m frightened there is something lingering that we can’t see but without the tests we won’t know.”

Jo said Aalish had coped really well with the oral chemo, and has been attending school for three afternoons a week which she has been really enjoying. She’s even asked her teachers for homework.

Jo added: “Aalish asked me if she would be able to go back to school, and at the hospital they said it would be good if she could do some socialising and have a bit of normality.

“Her whole class welcomed her back with open arms. It has been amazing and she is loving being at school. She’s even been doing a bit a PE and dancing. Her teacher said she is eager to learn. She comes in and tells me all about what she has been learning.

“To look at Aalish, you’d think she looks like a normal child. Her hair is starting to come back lovely and she just gets on with life. She’s very determined.”