A BRAVE five-year-old from Cirencester has inspired other people battling cancer after she overcame a brain tumour.

Myah Bell was among the courageous cancer survivors inspiring participants at last weekend’s Cirencester Relay for Life.

Easily recognisable in her purple ‘survivor’ T-shirt, Myah was diagnosed with a brain tumour when she was just 10-and-a-half months old.

Having spent her first birthday in hospital, Myah bravely endured a 17-and-a-half hour operation to remove the cancerous growth inside her head.

She then underwent further surgery to have a shunt fitted that will remain inside her body for the rest of her life to ensure the excess fluid which builds up in her brain can be drained out of her body.

Despite such enormous travails, Myah now endeavours to live like any other little girl and will start her second year of primary school in September.

She was, needless to say, thrilled to be invited to be part of the Relay for Life’s Cancer Survivors’ celebratory lap which initiated proceedings at midday on Saturday.

“It was really fun doing the walk,” said Myah, who was accompanied by her devoted sister, Freya, 7, and mum Fay Qioniwasa.

“It was wet,” Myah added of the weekend’s weather, with Freya thoughtfully replying, “But rain doesn’t stop cancer.”

Chatting with the sisters at the start line was fellow survivor Ian Brown, a director at Gloucester-based building contractors E G Carter & Co Ltd who, as a Relay for Life ambassador, has spent countless hours raising thousands of pounds for the event, the proceeds of which go directly to research into the disease.

Myah, who lives in Reeves Close, was delighted to be one such recipient of Ian’s generosity, saying proudly: “Ian gave me some money for being brave.”

And will the two young sisters be back for next year’s event?

“My best and only sister and I are going to do this walk every single year we are alive,” Myah added as Freya and Fay looked on proudly.