It is a milestone they never thought they would reach but little Ruby Young starts nursery today.

The three-year-old was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer, just days after her second birthday.

Her mother Vicki Young said: “I’m terrified but it’s amazing. We genuinely didn’t know if she’d make it to nursery. She’s really excited.

“The nursery teachers are really lovely and they’re looking forward to her starting.”

Ruby has had chemotherapy and radiotherapy making her very ill and a 12-hour operation that did not eliminate the cancer in her stomach and also cost her a kidney.

Vicki added: “She’s doing good at the moment, taking her tablets every day and drinking and eating – just about – enough.”

Since falling ill her family have raised £500,000 for treatment in America.

The campaign was supported by friends and strangers from across the Towns who helped to raise the total in just 11 months.

Celebrities including Louis Tomlinson from One Direction, musician Rick Wakeman, England fly-half Danny Cipriani and The Only Way Is Essex’s Mario Falcone, also leant their support to the social media campaign.

Now that money is in the bank, should Ruby relapse she will be able to get help in America where the NHS would only offer palliative care.

Last week they went school uniform shopping – or unicorn as Ruby calls it – and Vicki shared a photo on her Facebook page.

She said: “This is such a huge deal. Last year, we weren’t even sure that Ruby would live until school age – a terrifying fear.

“But here we are in our ‘unicorn’. She was so happy to be wearing it, and so proud of herself. Another milestone we weren’t sure we’d reach. Well done Ruby Roo.”

Ruby will be joining her older brother Freddy at Thames View Infants and Junior School in Rainham.