BRAVE Suzanne Pope was crowned this year's Edenfield Rose Queen after battling against a rare illness.

The eleven-year old pupil of Stubbins County Primary School developed cancer of the kidney, lung and a brain tumour when she was just three-years-old.

Suzanne (pictured), from Croft Acres, Edenfield, fought off the illness three times after suffering relapses in her treatment. She has now been in remission for five years.

Her mum, Mrs Norma Pope, said: "She was first diagnosed with a kidney tumour, which was removed and she had chemotherapy.

"Six months later she had a relapse, and developed tumours in her lungs. The tumours were removed, following which again, she had another relapse and had to have brain surgery, to remove another tumour."

On Saturday, the youngster was crowned Rose Queen by her 16-year-old sister, Kate.

"It was lovely to see Suzanne enjoying herself, she was thrilled and excited to be crowned Rose Queen," added Mrs Pope.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.