Brave little cancer sufferer Ruby Young is the new face of a national Christmas campaign.

Ruby’s ongoing battle against aggressive neuroblastoma has touched hearts across the globe – but nowhere more so than here in Medway.

In less than a year, people have raised £500,000 to help her family afford potentially life-saving treatment.

Now the three-year-old – who will be spending Christmas in hospital – is the face of Solving Kids’ Cancer (formerly the NCCA UK) as it appeals for donations in the run-up to the festive period to help others like Ruby.

Mum Vikki, of Monmouth Close, Rainham, said: “It’s so lovely, I got the call just as Ruby was about to be admitted back into hospital, so I quickly ran around London to find a Christmas hat for the picture.

“Ruby asked if it was to help get money for her, but I told her we had that now, and this was for others. She just said ‘I want to raise money for other poorly children’, it was so lovely.” - Vikki Young

“Ruby asked if it was to help get money for her, but I told her we had that now, and this was for others. She just said ‘I want to raise money for other poorly children’, it was so lovely.”

Ruby is still undergoing treatment on the NHS to try and rid her body of the cancerous cells.

Should that succeed, there then is an 80% chance she will relapse within five years and at that point the NHS will not offer further treatment, and she must go to America for help.

After an unsuccessful round of chemotherapy earlier this year, she is now on a new trial treatment at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Little is known about it, including the long-term effects, as it has only been used for two years.

Ruby is having a continuous infusion of antibodies, which will try and teach her body to fight the cancerous cells, for 10 days.

Then she will rest at home for thee weeks. This is continued six times.

After two cycles she is due a scan to see how well it is working.

Vikki added: “I don’t know what to expect really. I just want it gone.

“Her cancer is much more aggressive that other children’s, most of them would have been in remission after all this treatment.”

Ruby has been well lately, without any chemo since July.

“We call her Hickman line ‘Wigglies’, and when she is given treatment and medicine, we say ‘Wigglies needs a drink, so it might hurt a bit’.

“She said ‘it always hurts when Wigglies needs a drink’. It was so sad. But this is not as bad as other treatments, especially chemo, and they are giving her morphine for the pain.”

The family are planning to be together in the hospital on Christmas Day, with dad Rob and Ruby’s older brother Freddy.

“I couldn’t be without either of my children at Christmas. We will probably have another Christmas Day at home afterwards as well when Ruby is feeling better.”