A TODDLER facing a two-year battle to beat leukaemia has been described by her parents as “a little fighter”.

Friends and family have rallied to support the Birtwistles from Accrington, after the diagnosis of their young daughter Edie, who is just 22-months-old.

Edie’s mum Joanne, 39, and dad Lee, 38, have come forward to thank supporters who have organised a charity night in her honour, with proceeds going towards various children’s cancer charities.

Edie, who is undergoing treatment at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, was diagnosed when she was 17-months-old after Joanne suspected a nose bleed was due to something more serious.

Joanne, who works at Shadsworth Children’s Centre in Blackburn, said: “In my first job when I was 19, I was working as a nursery nurse at a children’s hospital.

"There was one little boy with leukaemia who had a nose bleed, combined with other symptoms and I never forgot that.

“Edie didn’t seem very sick, she was just unsettled and not herself, but when her nose started to bleed, "I just thought the word ‘leukaemia’ and I couldn’t shake the possibility that it could be that.

“I took her to the GP on Monday and she was diagnosed on the Thursday.”

The couple also have an older son, Alexander four, who they say has been very protective but has coped well with the news of his little sister’s illness.

Joanne said: “She has come through the worst, most intensive part of her treatment and is technically in remission, so things are looking really good.

“She is a little fighter and we are very positive, but we also worry. She has two years of chemo-therapy ahead and will have to take various combinations of drugs throughout.”

Lee said: “The prognosis is good and we are thinking positively.

"We have also been completely overwhelmed by everyone’s generosity in supporting us.”

The couple said they would like to thank their friends Tracy Holmes, Donna Letts, Gareth Dean and Jamie Hudson for arranging the charity night in honour of Edie.

The live music event is with with local band, Something Else, who are also family friends.

Band member Jamie Hudson said: “Family life hasn’t been quite the same since Edie’s diagnosis.”

The charity night is taking place at the Global Conference Centre, Watson Street Oswaldtwistle on Saturday, August 15.

For further details on the event please contact the centre on 01254 38647.