The 'perfect young lady' from Hartlepool who won her fight with cancer - and now she's a big backer of charity

But the photo doesn’t tell the whole story of Elly Mae’s two-year fight against acute lymphoblastic leukaemia or how she has gone on to become a caring teenager who helps others.

Elly Mae and her family make donations every month to charity as their way of saying thank you for the support they got during her fight for life.

They are determined to never forget the battles that others are going through – and the fight that Elly Mae herself won in 2017.

The 15-year-old from Hartlepool was only nine when her parents first noticed red spots and bruises on her shortly before her 10th birthday

They took her to the doctors and tests confirmed ALL, which is a cancer of the white blood cells.

The Dyke House School pupil’s treatment included lumbar punctures, liver biopsies and numerous rounds of chemotherapy, both oral and intravenous, and daily injections to thin her blood.

She was so poorly that she spent months at a time in hospital but still always put others before herself.

In 2016, the Hartlepool Mail told how Elly Mae helped other children on the hospital ward to get through their own ordeal even though she was ill.

Her amazing spirit was recognised when she won a Child of Courage trophy at the 2016 Best of Hartlepool Awards.

The two-year battle against leukaemia was tough for the whole family but in 2017, the 12-year-old got to ring the bell at the RVI hospital in Newcastle to signal her treatment was finally at an end and she was in remission.

Now Elly Mae is about to go into Year 11 at Dyke House School, strives to do her best in the classroom and her family makes donations to town charity Miles for Men every month to say thank you for the support they got through the darkest times.

Dad Dean Waugh, 51, praised his daughter as ‘a perfect young lady who is considerate and not afraid to speak her mind.”

He added: “Miles for Men was absolutely fantastic for us and we don’t know what we would have done without them. If we can donate to them, they can give that same support to other people who need it.”

Dean described Elly Mae’s two-year ordeal as ‘soul destroying’ but the family – which includes dad Dean, mum Diane Metcalfe, 56, and Dean’s son Joseph Waugh, 27, – did their utmost to keep Elly Mae’s life as normal as possible.

"Normality was a massive part of our lives at the time.

Dean added: “If I am honest, at the beginning when it all started it was soul destroying. When you are a parent, it escalates the feeling.”

And yet, it was time spent on hospital wards which gave hope to Dean. He explained: “When we first went on a ward after Elly Mae was diagnosed, we saw kids who were playing on the wards and it took a weight off our shoulders.”

Dean remembered the day that Elly Mae rang the bell to say she was in remission.

"There were tears. The one thing I have found over the years is I am more emotional now than ever,” said Dean.

"It is thinking of what Elly Mae has put up with over the years, what she has had to deal with. But the day she rang the bell was the best day ever.”

Thankfully, Elly Mae pulled through her fight but the whole family wants to keep supporting a charity to help those still facing those dark times.

Miles for Men regularly visited the family and offered support when it was needed most.

Dean said: “Miles for Men might be a small charity but their support for other people is invaluable.”

Miles for Men founder Micky Day said: “Elly Mae is amazing. She has always stayed positive and look at her now. She is a real life hero.

"The family has always supported Miles for Men. It is great to see a happy ending for families. We start the journey but like to finish it with them too.”

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