Lottie's sunshine spirit unwavering amid brain tumour battle

An extraordinary young girl who has endured intensive chemotherapy and surgery for a malignant brain tumour has astonished her parents with her unwavering positivity and radiant smile.

Eight-year-old Lottie fell seriously ill last October after returning from a family holiday. Doctors quickly discovered that she had a brain tumour and required immediate treatment.

Parents Paul and Claire, from Middleton and Shaw, received further devastating news when they learned that their daughter had Ewing's sarcoma, a rare cancer affecting the bones and surrounding tissue.

Despite their world being turned upside down, Lottie amazed her parents with her sunny disposition, constantly smiling and joking with the nurses. She even wanted to use her experience to raise money for charity and help others in need.

Proud dad Paul Tierney, from Middleton, told Rochdale Online: “It’s been really hard, to be honest. We were still getting over the first shock of finding the tumour, and then we were hit with more and more news – the operation, waiting for the biopsy, and then being told it was malignant.

“It’s like a sledgehammer hitting you over and over again with new information.

“And yet, as the adults are absolutely floored by it all, Lottie has this huge smile on her face and a positive character which, to be honest, is helping keep us going.

“I recently said that I think we can all learn a thing or two from the kids, and it’s really true.

“Even when she’s in pain and suffering, her sense of humour is as sharp as anything. The nurse asked her if she had any allergies, and she pointed to me.

“Through everything, she does nothing but smile.”

When she lost her hair to chemotherapy, selfless Lottie donated her ponytail and raised over £2,000 for the Little Princess Trust, which provides real-hair wigs to children who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment.

Dad Paul has raised thousands more through a JustGiving page, which is raising funds for both the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Ward 86, where Lottie received chemotherapy.

To support the fundraising campaign, Paul and a sizeable group of friends are gearing up for a bike ride from Manchester to Blackpool and back this July.

Additionally, Paul has generated approximately £3,500 by organising a raffle for a Manchester City shirt autographed by Kevin De Bruyne. Lottie, a Manchester City fan like her father, was thrilled to receive a card from the team's manager Pep Guardiola, along with signed shirts from players Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish.

Paul added: “We really want to give back to these charities, and the donations received so far have been great. Even Lottie’s school Crompton Primary School even involved and raised money by selling doughnuts and yellow cancer ribbons, which helped to raise money separately."

To donate to the JustGiving page for the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital and Ward 86, visit: www.justgiving.com/page/paul-tierney

To sponsor the cycle trip from Manchester to Blackpool for the Manchester Foundation Trust Charity, visit: www.justgiving.com/lottieslegends