A brave nine-year-old girl from south Norfolk has astonished everyone with her positive attitude and for becoming the face of a hugely successful fundraising campaign for Brain Tumour Research.
Maisie Harvey, from Scole, near Diss was diagnosed with a brain tumour in September when she was eight years old, after suffering from headaches.
It led to Maisie having an operation to have a shunt installed to drain fluid from her brain.
Maisie returned to Scole Primary School after Christmas and on Friday took part in Wear A Hat Day for Brain Tumour Research.
Maisie said: 'I love being back at school. And I love my rabbit hat.
'I am doing really well. My favourite lesson is maths, as it is fun and easy.'
Maisie's tumour is inoperable and treatment options in the UK are limited. But currently it is not growing and she is being monitored by doctors.
Maisie's aunt, Nicky Harrison, said: 'Maisie is doing so well. She has had a shunt fitted in her skull that drains fluid from her brain into her tummy.
'The shunt reduces the symptoms that she suffers from the build up of fluid but it comes with it's own difficulties.
'Chemo and radiation therapies are not suitable for a nine-year-old- year old brain that's still developing.
'Within 24 hours after her operation Maisie had all the hospital staff laughing with her positive humour.'
'Maisie is beautiful, caring, hilariously funny, clever, crazy. The news of her tumour has been incredibly hard on the family and her parents, Rebecca and James.
'I wanted to do something positive so I set up a just giving page for Brain Tumour Research, with a gorgeous picture of my niece and within hours we smashed the target of £750.
'So far we have raised nearly £3,000 and it's still rising.'
Maisie's sister, Evie, 10, has taken her role as big sister very seriously.
Evie said: 'I am very proud of Maisie. She can still be annoying but I love being her big sister.
'It has been hard for everyone. A brain tumour is not very common and it can affect someone very seriously.'
The staff and pupils at her primary school have fully supported Maisie and her campaign.
Headteacher Mark Carlyle said: 'The Wear A Hat campaign is the first large fundraising effort the school has done.
'It has been great to be part of raising awareness of the cancer.
'Maisie is a brave and courageous little girl and her family and friends have coped remarkably well.
Brain tumours are the biggest cause of fatal cancer in the UK children and adults yet receive just 1pc of the national spend on cancer research.
Brain Tumour Research is the only national charity in the UK funding sustainable and continuous research into brain tumour.
To donate towards Maisie's fundraising campaign for Brain Tumour Research visit www.justgiving.com/wear-a-hat-for-maisie/ or text WAHD55 £5 to 70070 to donate £5.
Do you have a charity story to share with the EDP? Let us know by emailing michelle.finch@archant.co.uk
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