A TEENAGER recovering from Hodgkin's Disease has shown unbelievable courage to scoop a prestigious accolade -- the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award.

Brave Laura Proctor, 15, was nominated by fellow students and staff at Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School after she has shown outstanding courage when faced with serious illness.

Laura, who lives in Whitworth, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease -- a cancer of the lymph nodes -- in March last year when she was 14 after suffering weeks of tiredness and poor health.

Twelve sessions of chemotherapy over the following six months left Laura incredibly weak, tired and frequently in pain.

But rather than stay at home, she decided to attend school whenever she felt strong enough -- and sometimes when she didn't.

Acting headteacher, Arthur Robinson, said: "It was a long and hard summer for Laura and her family, all of whom were incredibly supportive.

"Friends in school, six in particular, have been there to help and support Laura whenever they could. Laura was determined she was going to carry on and do her very best, despite the wretched condition she was in.

"She is now about to start the run-up to her GCSE exams, after which she will enter the sixth form and university, following her ambition to become a vet."

He added: "We were very proud when Laura won on her own merit a form prize in July for effort and achievement throughout the year."

And Laura eventually received the good news she had been longing for at the end of last year when doctors gave the youngster the all-clear.

The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Award was launched in April 2000 to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions made by many secondary school students to schools and communities.

The prize is given to students nominated by their classmates and teachers for showing outstanding qualities in overcoming adverse circumstances, selfless service to others or youth participation and volunteering.

Since the scheme began as a pilot in September 1999, over 7,000 pupils from 1,700 secondary schools across the UK have received awards.

Laura will be presented with the award during a ceremony at the school on Friday morning.