A BRAVE little girl who fought leukaemia for two years is celebrating being cancer-free.

Hollie Hodgson, who will turn four on Monday, got to ring the end-of-treatment bell at the Great North Children’s Hospital in Newcastle last week.

The Dearham youngster was diagnosed with the disease a couple of months before her second birthday. and it’s been a rough journey for the family

Mum Kelly McGee, 32, said: “It was emotional to see Hollie ring the bell. I’m not one to cry, but I had tears in my eyes. All the doctors and nurses were there, everyone was singing and they had tambourines and maracas. It was brilliant.

“It’s been a rough journey. We spent most of the first year in hospital due to her little heart not being able to take the chemo and steroids. It’s been difficult watching her suffering and losing her hair. In the last 12 months she started being better. We’ve had ups and downs.”

Kelly said when she told Hollie she wouldn’t have to take any more medication, she cheered.

Hollie, who has two sisters and a brother, underwent a bone marrow aspiration last week to ensure the cancer is gone and is still awaiting results.

On Thursday, she rang the bell in front of her mum and the rest of the family - dad Colin Hodgson, grandmother Debbie McGee and grandfather Graham Fearon. Kelly said: “They were like me, with tears in their eyes. We met a lot of children that didn’t make it or relapsed, making us worry that she would relapse too - we have to thank our lucky star.”

The family will celebrate with a community party on Saturday. Kelly said: “It’s a community party to thank the people for all they’ve done for Hollie and to celebrate her fourth birthday.” When Hollie was diagnosed with cancer, a fundraising page was set up to help the family pay for a holiday once she was better. And next year they are looking forward to a family holiday in spring and a visit to Lapland later in the year.

Kelly said: “Hollie is obsessed with Santa, so we want to take her there. I’m over the moon with people’s support. Our community is tight-knit, I still get messages to ask how Hollie’s doing - they’ve been outstanding.”