But brave little Leigh-Anne Widdup is still smiling.

The seven-year-old from Willowfield Road in Pye Nest, Halifax, has spent the last two years fighting the potentially fatal disease.

"We thank God every day that she's here. We're so grateful," said dad Simon Widdup.

"Her consultant sat and cried with us. He said it was one of the most complicated cases he'd ever seen."

Leigh-Anne was five when she was diagnosed with the aggressive cancer. Simon, 31, said: "When I heard, I just started screaming in the middle of Morrisons. You think you're going to lose your little girl."

Leigh-Anne had months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to stop cancer cells spreading to her brain.

She lost her hair, could not walk because of muscle weakening and needed dozens of blood transfusions.

The treatment was fraught with complications. She had an allergic reaction to one of the drugs and developed severe pancreatitis. Her parents were told she might not make it through the night. Then she caught a chest infection that collapsed her lung and she spent her sixth birthday in a coma induced to save her life.

And then the Widdups faced an agonising wait for a bone-marrow match.

But now she has started back at Christ Church School, Sowerby Bridge, part-time and wants to raise money to help children like her.

By holding a concert and other events they have collected £7,000 for Eckersley House in the grounds of St James's Hospital, Leeds. It provides a place for the families of sick children to stay.

Anyone who wants to donate to the fund should call 01422 893345.