TO successfully battle against cancer once in your lifetime is a remarkable feat of bravery whatever age you may be.

But 12-year-old Becky Baxter from Clayton-le-Moors has beaten the disease twice in her short life.

Now, mum Karen is nominating her for the Pride of East Lancashire Awards Child of Courage for her fighting spirit and ability to keep smiling.

Karen, of Victoria Street, said: "There's no way I could have gone through everything that Becky has - she's been so strong throughout."

Becky's problems first started when she was aged seven and was diagnosed with three tumours in her lower abdomen which were removed in an operation at Pendlebury Children's Hospital.

After that came several months of chemotherapy, which took its toll on the youngster.

Karen said: "The diagnosis came completely out of the blue and we were all in shock. Becky was upset to begin with but she soon learned to cope.

"The chemotherapy was hard for her. She lost all her hair and found it difficult to eat so she lost quite a lot of weight.

"The drugs are passed through lines in the chest which were very uncomfortable. Often after chemo, she'd be unable to eat anything for a week or she would get an infection and have to go back into hospital.

"We only got to spend one week out of three at home."

After 18 months in remission, Becky, who goes to Norden High School, was just about to celebrate her tenth birthday with party for her friends when she received the shattering news the cancer had returned.

More chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed and she has now been in remission for 18 months, although she is waiting for an operation to remove a kidney irreparably damaged by the treatment.

Her story touched the hearts of East Lancashire people. Several pubs and other organisations twice clubbed together to raise money to send the family to Disneyland Europe and Australia, where Becky got to meet her some long lost relatives.

Now, Karen and husband Tony, are looking to the future and Becky is loving life at her new school, along with all her friends who transferred from St John's Primary School in Great Harwood.

Karen said: "Becky's so brave - we're so proud of her. She's been through so much but she's always been able to smile. I think the Pride awards are a great idea to recognise people, especially children like Becky."