A BRAVE little girl battling leukaemia described as a “shining light” is hoping to get to Disneyland for a once in a lifetime trip.

Ella Molyneux, four, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia last year.

Ella is continuing to receive treatment at Great Ormond Street with chemotherapy, bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures but dreams of being able to go to Disneyland.

Now family friend Anthony Smith, 59, from Eastwood, is hoping to make that a reality.

Ella’s family have thanked an “incredible” family friend who is set to run the London Marathon to help her get to Disneyland.

Mr Smith, who suffered a major accident in 2010 that left him unable to walk, has been slowly building up strength for a full marathon run over more than a decade and hopes to raise £1,000 for Ella, to help her own recovery and to let her take a Disneyland holiday when she is well.

Mr Smith said: “I wanted to do this run for Ella, to help give her a better quality of life.

“We want to get her to Disney because she has been through so much, her life is in Great Ormond Street or Basildon Hospital or Southend and it has thrown the family into turmoil.

“With what I have been through, I know it must be so daunting for a little girl and I am always thinking about her and what she is doing.

“If I can raise more than £1,000 for her, it would be amazing.”

Mr Smith broke his pelvis in three places in 2010 and required 16 operations, which he has been fighting to recover from.

Mandy Molyneux, 61, Ella’s grandmother, said: “As a family, we are so grateful to Tony for this.

“Ella is receiving treatment still and we must be positive.

“She is a shining light in our lives and we are so very grateful for him thinking of Ella on his journey to prove he can run a marathon.”

Donate to Anthony’s fundraiser at: https://www.gofundme.com/f/ellas-battle-against-leukaemia