A FIVE-YEAR-OLD girl who has borne her treatment for leukaemia with a smile, despite being confined to a wheelchair, has been rewarded for her courage.

Lucie Russell was one of 21 young people from across the region presented with a Brave Heart Award at a ceremony at St James’ Park, in Newcastle, yesterday .

Mother Kirsten Sasbry, who along with partner Andrew Russell, lives in Major Street, Darlington, said: “The awards were fantastic. Lucie loves being special. She is a little princess.”

She added: “Lucie was diagnosed with leukaemia a day after my father was given the all-clear from throat cancer. It was exhilaration then being brought back down to earth again.”

Lucie has been unable to walk because of her sensitivity to chemotherapy treatment, which has caused a host of side-effects.

She also had swine flu last year, and was prevented from beginning school this year after contracting chicken pox for a second time.

Ms Sasbry said: “Despite everything, Lucie is still happy and smiley. She is one of the happiest people you can meet.

“She loves going to hospital – where we hate having to pack our bags. The Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle has been absolutely wonderful.”

Ms Sasbry said Lucie, who will complete her treatment in May, was classed as low risk, so hopefully she will not need a bone transplant.

Leukaemia patient Emma Bell, five, was given a Brave Heart Award, alongside her brother, nine-year-old Kieran, who was her bone marrow donor.

Mother Ruth Bell, of Lanchester, County Durham, said Emma had been diagnosed in March 2008 and was 18 months into her treatment when she got the devastating news that she had relapsed.

She said: “Our only hope was a bone marrow transplant.

We found Kieran was a match, which was only a 25 per cent chance.

“He was really eager to do it, and Emma had the transplant in April.

“Unfortunately, she has had quite a lot of complications and is only just coming out the other end.

At the moment she is cancer free.”

Others presented with awards were: Connor Cassidy, six from Sunderland; Klaudia Robinson, 15, Hartlepool; Michaela Stewart, eight, Murton, County Durham; Bryan Nicholson, eight, Throckley; Kira Edgar, seven, Newcastle; Grace Kemp, six, Ushaw Moor, County Durham; David Dawson, six, Lanchester, County Durham; James McDermott, seven, Chester-le-Street; Kallum Green, nine, Gateshead; Cameron Angus, seven, Gosforth; David Nixon, seven, Skelton, Cleveland; Matthew Lisle, six, Redcar; Coby Seddon, five, Ingleby Barwick; Liam Harper, 18, Blyth; Matthew Phillips, 12, Shilbottle, Newcastle.