NINE-year-old Rachel Lambert has been battling against a crippling disease all her life and on Tuesday showed just why she's received a Local Child of Achievement Award.

Rachel was at WH Smith in St Annes Square to help launch the Giggle-a-Day jokebook and received a special certificate to mark her contribution to the book.

The book, published by HarperCollins in association with the Child of Achievement Awards, has been written by award winners and other school children across the country. And Rachel's cracking contribution is one of the best in the book:

Why is Cinderella no good at football? Because her coach is a pumpkin and she always runs away from the ball!

All royalties from the book are being donated to the charity, helping them to help children achieve more and providing funding for the 150 grants which are given to children throughout the year for a wide variety of requests.

Brave Rachel, from St. Annes, was diagnosed with achondroplasia when she was a few months old, an inoperable condition affecting the development of bones and joints.

Eleven months later she had an operation to relieve pressure on her spinal column. At this point Rachel was quadriplegic and ventilator dependent.

A year later Rachel recovered a very small amount of breathing capacity and limited use of her arms and legs. Since then she has bravely fought back and can now breathe for 12 hours without a ventilator, walk 25 yards unaided and stand unaided for 20 seconds.

She attends Highfurlong school in Blackpool and has excelled in a way never expected. Earlier this year Rachel was awarded her Child of Achievement Award, which recognises exceptional children who cope with a daily life many adults would turn away from.

Rachel's spinal injuries consultant wrote that he was privileged to write a letter in support of her nomination.

Rachel's proud mum Joan Lambert said: "When she first received the Local Child of Achievement Award she was a bit overwhelmed. She tries hard with everything she does, she's never complained and we're very proud of her. Her school has also been very important -- without them she wouldn't be where she is today."