ALYSHA Bunston, from Blackwood, is only ten but has already been through so much.

Diagnosed with leukaemia three years ago, Alysha underwent intensive chemotherapy but is recovering well and is encouraging people to sign up for a night-time walking marathon.

The Blackwood Primary School pupil, of Llwyn Coed, was in Cardiff yesterday with Newport athletes Christian Malcolm and Jamie Baulch as they supported the Shine event, organised by Cancer Research UK.

Men and women aged over 13 walk either 26 or 13 miles around Cardiff on September 25 to raise funds for different types of research.

Alysha is now getting her life back on track, enjoying singing, dancing, swimming and Brownies.

She was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2007 after her parents took her for blood tests because she had been unwell.

Mother Janeen Bunston said her daughter underwent intensive chemotherapy at Cardiff’s University Hospital of Wales until June last year.

She remained in school throughout her treatment and started back full-time in September.

Alysha now goes to hospital for check-ups and blood tests every six weeks.

Mrs Bunston, 45, said: "We're very proud of her. We've been there for support but it's her that's had to go through it."

Alysha and her family, which includes her mother, father Michael and 17-year-old sister Carly, have been able to go on holiday abroad again and recently went to Majorca.

The family had to cancel holidays to Ibiza and Disneyland Paris when they received the devastating news in 2007.

Since her diagnosis, her family have fundraised for cancer charities and Mr Bunston, 42, raised around £1,400 for Children with Leukaemia by running the London Marathon in April. Alysha raised £96 when she completed the Race for Life in July.

For more information about Shine, see www.cancerresearchuk.org/shine