A FIVE-YEAR-OLD schoolgirl battling a rare brain tumour has been taking part in a clinical trial at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Aoife Kidd, from Monkton was diagnosed with High Grade Glioma – a rare brain tumour – when she was just 16-months-old.

Since then the brave youngster has undergone brain surgery and years of gruelling chemotherapy to try and shrink and kill the tumour.

Dad Michael, 37, says while previous treatment had been effective, medics were not able to get rid of the tumour completely.

He said: “There was a huge part of the tumour removed but because of where it was laying it was too risky to remove anymore of it so she went through the surgery and chemotherapy but part of it was still there.”

Two years ago the family were offered a vital lifeline from Great Ormond Street Hospital in London when they offered Aoife a place on their ‘Braf Clinical Trial’.

Michael says the treatment, called Dabrafenib, is given to patients whose cancer has developed the ‘Braf mutation’ which can accelerate the cancer.

Michael added: “Since she has been part of the trial the tumour has remained stable.”

Now Michael, backed by wife Evelyn, 37 and youngest daughter Eilidh, three, is fundraising to install a sensory room in Monkton Primary where Aoife is in primary one.

Michael said:”We are fundraising to raise money for a sensory space at the school.Aoife is five-years-old but because of all the surgery and chemotherapy she has gone through her development has been delayed.

“Her speech and emotions and level of understanding have been affected. We loved the effect other sensory rooms have had on her so we came up with the idea to try and raise money to get one in the school. It’s something that will be a benefit to any children who need it.”