A FOUR-year-old girl from Suffolk who is battling cancer has received a national award for bravery.

A FOUR-year-old girl from Suffolk who is battling cancer has received a national award for bravery.

Rubi-May Mason was a normal, happy little girl preparing for her first day of school when she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.

The brave youngster from Stowmarket has undergone intensive treatment and endured operations to remove one of her kidneys and tumours on her lungs but has continued to smile throughout.

Rubi-May's mother, Maxine Mason, said: “It has been like a bad dream but she has kept me and my husband going.

“She hasn't complained, she never questions it, she just deals with it and gets on with things.”

Doctors first thought Rubi-May had a urine infection when she returned from a family holiday in August but when her symptoms got worse after a week, she was referred to West Suffolk Hospital, Bury St Edmunds.

Within hours, her family had been told she had a childhood kidney cancer called 'Wilms Tumour' and she was sent to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, for an intensive course of chemotherapy.

Maxine, 35, said: “I was absolutely stunned.

“You just go into your own bubble of shock and you live in your own World.”

Rubi-May had to endure radiotherapy at Addenbrooke's every day in December until Christmas Eve and now faces a further six months of chemotherapy.

But her bravery and spirit inspired her aunt Lorraine, known to Rubi-May as Auntie Bessie, to nominate her for one of Cancer Research UK's Little Star Awards.

Maxine, a swimming teacher at Mid Suffolk Leisure Centre, Stowmarket, said: “She just wants to be a little girl and do the things she used to do.

“We love her so much and can't wait for her fight to be over so she can have her childhood back to normal.

“I feel so proud of her for getting this award.”

Rubi-May has won a Little Star award as well as a prize of a �50 TK Maxx voucher.

Paula Young, Cancer Research UK's spokeswoman for Suffolk, said: “Rubi-May is a true little star, who rightly deserves this accolade.

“We send her and her family every best wish through her ongoing treatment.”

To nominate an outstanding youngster under 18 who has been treated for cancer, email littlestar@cancer.org.uk or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org/littlestar

Jo.thewlis@eadt.co.uk