A little girl struck down with cancer and left unable to walk has been given an award for her courage.

Four-year-old Sabine White from Chartham, near Canterbury, was just two when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

She has spent a half her young life in treatment, during which she became so ill she stopped breathing and lost the use of her legs twice.

Thankfully, the end of her treatment is in sight and she can walk again.

Now she has been presented with a star-shaped Kids & Teens trophy by Cancer Research UK.

She was nominated for the award by her mum Amber who said: “At times she has really struggled with the treatment but she has never lost her smile or her sense of humour. She is a real star to us.”

The first signs of Sabine’s illness emerged in late summer 2013 when she developed a rash on her legs.

Amber took her to the GP but they were told she probably had a virus.

A few days later Sabine’s father noticed the rash had got worse and she was starting to look a bit yellow.

Worried, he took her to A&E at Kent and Canterbury Hospital where they ran tests.

Amber said: “People started mentioning leukaemia but we thought – ‘surely not? She’s not ill, it’s just a rash’.”

However, eventually doctors broke the news that Sabine had an aggressive form of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and would need a blood transfusion and chemotherapy treatment straightaway.

“When they said it was leukaemia, our reaction was utter disbelief,” said Amber.

“My mind rushed to thinking about bone marrow donors and all the people who used to die of leukaemia. Suddenly our world changed.”

Sabine began two years of treatment, some of which has been traumatic including a bad and dramatic reaction to the drugs.

Her breathing deteriorated and she had to undergo an emergency intubation and be admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit for four weeks.

She developed severe ulcers in the mouth and digestive system, her legs blew up to four times their normal size and she suffered blood clots.

One of the drugs caused nerve paralysis which meant she was unable to walk and her vocal chords were paralysed her vocal cords so she couldn’t talk or make a sound.

Amber said: “At one stage, she was in so much pain, she was put on morphine along with paracetamol in order to ease her pain.

“To see her in such agony was terrible. I’m just thankful that she was young enough at the time not to remember what she went through. We, on the other hand, will never forget it.”

Sabine had to learn to walk again, twice. And even today, she struggles after each dose of chemotherapy.

“To see her in such agony was terrible. I’m just thankful that she was young enough at the time not to remember what she went through" - Sabine's mum Amber

Yet, she has been able to start school and attend when she is well enough. And when she is at home, she loves to play with brother Asher, seven, and sister Madeline, six, who are patient and kind with her.

She is due to complete her treatment at the end of January.

Amber said: “We’re grateful for the treatment which saved Sabine’s life.

"Success stories like ours would not be possible without the life-saving work of organisations, like Cancer Research UK, which in turn rely on the public to raise much-needed funding.”

Cancer Research UK spokeswoman for Kent, Lynn Daly said: “Sabine has been through a traumatic experience but faced it with enormous courage and resilience.

She is a true star and thoroughly deserves this award.”

Sabine also received a £50 TK Maxx gift card and a certificate signed by celebrities.