IT WILL be a proud moment on Sunday for Jayne-Ann and Ian Brown.

Their daughter Annabelle will perform the honour of presenting flowers to Sophie, Countess of Wessex, at the Daily Echo-backed gala concert in aid of Wessex Heartbeat.

Five years ago the couple hardly dared hope Annabelle would see it to her first birthday after being born with a major heart defect, but on Sunday she will join thousands at Southampton's Mayflower Theatre to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the charity which helped save her life.

Jayne-Ann, 47, said: "She's very excited. She's been practising her curtsey and we're going to buy her a special dress.

"She can't wait until Sunday because she's desperate to see the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang production."

The cast of the West End smash hits Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Full Monty are just part of the impressive line-up for Swing From the Heart.

Leading the show will be The Cruise star Jane McDonald, Brian Conley and singer Melanie Stace, with music from popular big band The Andy Prior Orchestra.

The evening will be compered by Stars In Their Eyes host Matthew Kelly and all money raised will go to Wessex Heartbeat, which supports the cardiac unit at Southampton General Hospital.

Jayne-Ann, from Abbots Ann, near Andover, has been supporting Heartbeat since Annabelle underwent painstakingly delicate open-heart surgery at Southampton at just six weeks old.

Annabelle was born with a dangerously narrow valve connecting her heart and lungs and was transferred immediately from hospital in Winchester to the Wessex Cardiac Unit.

Jayne-Ann said: "The unit staff were fantastic. We arrived as a family because we thought Annabelle would be going home from Winchester so Ian had come in with our other children to pick her up.

"The staff on the unit didn't only treat Annabelle, they treated the whole family, which is so important because it was very traumatic for all of us. At the time we felt the outlook was bleak."

But Annabelle, five, has gone on to lead a healthy and active life, and started at Amport Primary School near Andover last year.

Jayne-Ann said: "Five years down the line we are much further ahead than we ever thought we would be. Annabelle is at school, she's well most of the time and I'd just like other parents going through what we have to know there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"We continually support Wessex Heartbeat because without the charity the work that has been done in the cardiac unit would not have happened, and parents and children like us would not have benefited."

Tickets have been selling fast for Sunday's concert but there are still seats left, priced at £15, £20, £25 and £30, including a glossy souvenir programme. To book call 023 8071 1811.