A CAERLEON girl who battled cancer met one of her pop heroes at the weekend.

Alys Prosser, 11, along with her mother, Jo, were special guests at Olly Murs’ concert at the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on Saturday.

Seven years ago, Alys embarked on months of gruelling treatment to try to overcome a life-threatening brain tumour.

After months of feeling unwell, doctors discovered a tumour just above the top of Alys’s spine.

Parents Mark and Jo Prosser and sister Elinor could only wait and hope as Alys, then just four years old, underwent delicate surgery at the University Hospital of Wales to remove the tumour, before beginning 18 months of chemotherapy.

Now Alys is living life to the full, pursuing her love for the performing arts, and has had her check-up scans reduced to one a year.

Alys’ mother, Jo, said: “Alys will always be our star but it was such a treat for her to meet Olly Murs.

“She has been through so much but has thankfully come a long way and we are so proud of her.”

At the end of 2008 Cancer Research UK gave Alys one of its Little Star awards, following a nomination from her mother, to mark her bravery in fighting cancer.

In 2010 she became one of the charity’s ‘shining lights’ and a 50-feet high image of her was projected onto the side of Cardiff City Hall to raise awareness of a fundraising walking marathon.

The Little Star Awards are open to all under-18s who have cancer or who have been treated for the disease in the last five years.

Karen Davis, from Cancer Research said: “The Little Star Awards unlike many other children’s awards have no judging panel because Cancer Research UK in partnership with TK Maxx believe that each and every child who faces cancer is extra special.”

To nominate a Little Star, or to donate, visit cruk.org/littlestar