An inspirational young cancer survivor got to walk the red carpet at the 2016 Pride of Britain Awards.

Shelby Newstead, 21, who beat neuroblastoma at just nine months old in 1996, was in the capital with her father David after a charity set up in her name was nominated for Fundraiser of the Year.

The Friends of Shelby Newstead (FoSN) helps children and their families suffering serious illnesses and beat off plenty of competition to be nominated, although it lost out on the night to marathon man Ben Smith, who raised hundreds of thousands of pounds by running 401 marathons in 401 days.

Mr Newstead, of White Post Lane, Culverstone, said: “Shelby and I had such a wonderful evening and I must say that we were very well looked after by ITV.

“There were 16 other regional finalists each of whom thoroughly deserved to be selected as the overall fundraiser of the year.

“We met many personalities that you would normally only read about in the press or see on TV all of which took time out for photos or a quick chat. The people we met and the whole Pride of Britain experience really is what makes Britain great.”

"The people we met and the whole Pride of Britain experience really is what makes Britain great" David Newstead

FoSN was nominated for two decades of incredible work, raising £500,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital and supporting to plenty of other good causes.

Back in August the Messenger’s Charity of the Year, the Parents Consortium, benefitted from FoSN’s generosity with the donation of a swish new motor. The Vauxhall Zafira has been used to take children in its care on day trips during school holidays.

FoSN will also support the mammoth campaign to support 12-year-old Hartley lad Jack Howard, with help needed to fund his accommodation and potentially life-saving kidney cancer treatment in Los Angeles.

Mr Newstead, who set up FoSN with his wife Sally, explained: “Our next fundraising event is tomorrow at the Clive Emson Conference Centre at Detling Showground.

“It’s our 20th anniversary event and we’re pretty much full – 850 people from around the area will be there. Last year we raised more than £110,000 in one evening and £5,000 of what we raise this year will go to Jack.”

Some of the money raised at the ball will come from an auction of Shelby’s artwork. Mr Newstead continued: “Shelby is an artist and her paintings raise a lot of money for our charity because people bid for them.

“Our volunteers and six trustees all put their time in for nothing and we’re helping kids who have been less fortunate than Shelby.”

For more on FoSN, visit shelbynewstead.com.