THE courage of a six-year-old Southampton schoolgirl who is battling a very rare cancer has inspired huge support for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Lydia McConnell, from Harefield, Southampton, has spent the last few weeks in Southampton General Hospital in protective isolation following groundbreaking treatment for a brain tumour.

Her mum, Charis, and godmother, Lorna Taylor, – who have organised a team of around 50 for Southampton Race for Life for Lydia – joined dancers at WestQuay last week to perform a new dance, Race for Life’s Cancer Slam.

Charis and Lorna hoped the Cancer Slam would stop shoppers in their tracks and Lydia’s moving story would motivate other women and girls to sign-up for Race for Life.

Lydia was diagnosed with medulloblastoma – a type of brain tumour – in July last year. She had been continually sick and doctors thought she had a bug when they admitted her to hospital.

Lydia was already seeing a specialist for a genetic condition called Gorlins Syndrome.

However, further tests revealed the tumour.

The youngster faced nine hours of life-saving surgery to remove it before embarking on several intensive courses of chemotherapy treatment.

She is now recovering from a stem cell transplant and hopes to return home in the next few weeks, although she will be closely monitored.

Only between five and ten per cent of children diagnosed with Gorlins Syndrome – which itself is rare – are subsequently diagnosed with medulloblastoma, and usually by the age of two.

Lydia’s parents thought she had passed the danger zone and were shocked when she was diagnosed.

Charis, 29, who also suffers from Gorlins Syndrome, said: “A new treatment trialled in America specifically for Lydia’s type of brain tumour was very recently licensed in the UK for Lydia, and we believe she is one of – if not the first – patient in Britain to receive it.

Charis and her husband Chris, 28, have been supported through a difficult time by Lydia’s godparents Lorna and Chris Taylor.

She said: “Among other things, they did not leave our sides for the entire nine hours while she went through surgery.”

She also praised fellow members of Thornhill Baptist Church and Bitterne Manor Primary School, which Lydia attends when she can.

“Lydia has been brilliant. She gets fed up, but she mainly just gets on with it. She gave a talk in front of her class explaining she ‘had a bad thing in her head and doctors had taken it out.’” said Charis.

“She took her hat off to show she had lost her hair. It was heart-breaking to listen to her, but she made me very proud”.

Mike Adams, the school’s head teacher, said: When Lydia first joined us she was already facing a number of challenges, but these did not stop her leading a normal school life.

“She has shown what a brave and inspirational young person she is. Her openness about her treatment has enabled everyone here to understand what it is like to have cancer.

“We are so proud of Lydia. She is an amazing pupil and she deserves to be recognised for her courage”.

Lydia’s modmother, Lorna, a community nurse who recently nominated Lydia for a Cancer Research UK Little Star Award, said: “She is the bravest little girl I have ever met.

“We know she has this chance because of cancer research and we are all committed to fundraising to keep the breakthroughs coming for Lydia and other children who need them.”

Dr Kat Arney, from Cancer Research UK, said: “The charity has pioneered life-saving clinical trials that have changed the way children with medulloblastoma are treated.

“Huge progress has been made in treating childhood cancer over recent years, but it’s only through research and clinical trials that we will save more children’s lives”.

Capturing the energy and spirit of Race for Life, the Cancer Slam embodies the passion and determination behind the rallying cry, ‘Cancer, we’re coming to get you.’ A big screen at WestQuay showed the full routine and the individual steps so shoppers could join in.

The Cancer Slam is also being performed by thousands of women as part of the rousing warm-up at over 230 Race for Life events around the UK this summer. A video showing how to do to dance steps is available online so participants can practise.

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life, in partnership with Tesco, is an inspiring women-only series of events which raises millions of pounds every year to help defeat cancer by funding life-saving research.

Rachel Northover, events manager, said: “We are very grateful to Charis and Lorna for supporting Cancer Slam and helping to spread the word about Race for Life.

“I hope Lydia’s very moving story has encouraged more mums, grans, daughters, sisters and friends to enter.”

This year’s events are at the Garrison Ground and University of Winchester Stadium on Sunday, June 9 and at Southampton Common on Sunday, July 14.

  • Last year, over 7,700 women took part in Race for Life in Winchester and Southampton and raised over £450,000. This year the organisers hope 8, 000 will help to raise £460,000 for vital research. To enter Race for Life and learn how to do the Cancer Slam, visit raceforlife.org