BRAVE youngster Ruby Owen will be spending the next year in and out of hospital on a chemotherapy programme – but she is facing it all with a smile.

The two-year-old from Kidsgrove was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May and endured an eight-hour operation at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, in Liverpool, to remove the majority of it.

Dad Martin, aged 38, said: "The tumour seems to be responding to the initial chemotherapy, but we won't know everything until we get the full report in two weeks. She's a little fighter, I don't know anyone who'd want to go what she's been through."

If chemotherapy is unsuccessful the Kidsgrove couple may be forced to seek pioneering treatment abroad costing £250,000.

Unaware of what the future may hold, little Ruby, pictured, takes it all in her stride.

Martin said: "She's doing really well for a two-year-old to bounce back from a massive brain operation. She's starting to get her vocabulary back and is a lot brighter when the chemo wears off but I know over the next months she's going to be in and out of hospital and very poorly."

Since Ruby's initial operation the community has rallied behind her with a sponsored car wash by Kidsgrove firefighters two weeks ago and a fun day at Kidsgrove Cricket Club's ground last weekend.

Ruby's bravery has not gone unnoticed and family friend Donna Downs has nominated the brave youngster for a Sentinel Our Heroes award in the Child of Courage category.

Donna, aged 32, of Kidsgrove, said: "She's still got that beautiful smile on her face which is an inspiration to stay strong."

Aldi supermarket at Trentham Lakes will host a fund-raising day for Ruby, with face painting, a car wash and raffle, tomorrow, from 9am to 5pm.