A KIND-HEARTED youngster with a life-limiting condition rubbed shoulders with the stars at a charity ball in the capital.

Hollie Williams, of Newton Aycliffe, in County Durham, experienced the full glare of the paparazzi this week when she attended the prestigious fundraising event at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair, London.

The 11-year-old, who who has cystic fibrosis, a condition that makes it difficult to breathe and digest food, was a special guest at Caudwell Children's annual Butterfly Ball which was attended by Joan Collins, Elizabeth Hurley and Sarah, Duchess of York.

Her mother Angela Williams, 47, said: "It was nice to meet the stars and she had a good time. It's a once in a lifetime event - she's been away and special memories have been made."

The Vane Road Primary School pupil was selected as one of 800 guests after helping to organise a Halloween fundraising disco for the charity in October.

A beneficiary of the national charity, which provides practical and emotional support to disabled children and their families, Hollie became ill prior to the event but selflessly delayed a two-week hospital stay to ensure it went ahead and travelled straight to the Royal Victoria Infirmary, in Newcastle, having raised £868.

"There's one thing with Hollie and the illness and what she's been through and that's whenever anything goes wrong she never moans," added Mrs Williams.

"She gets up and gets on with life."

Hollie got the chance to mingle and pose for pictures with the likes of Lindsay Lohan, singer Gabrielle and six-time Grammy award-winning Burt Bacharach who performed at the star-studded evening on Wednesday (June 22).

The £1.7million raised at the event, hosted by singer and Caudwell Children Ambassador Rachel Stevens and Blue singer Simon Webbe, will go towards transforming the lives of disabled children living in the UK.

Trudi Beswick, chief executive of Caudwell Children, said: “Hollie happily posed on the red carpet with a number of celebrity guests and she had a fantastic time, she was in her element.”

Thanks to the charity, Hollie was treated to a trip to Florida in 2010 and has since been given a specialised buggy which she uses on holiday when she becomes tired.

Mrs Williams and her husband Michael Williams hope to raise more awareness of cystic fibrosis and funds in the hope of one day finding a cure for the condition which has affected Hollie since birth.