INSPIRATIONAL teenager Ellen Houghton has fulfilled her mission to brighten up Christmas for children at the hospital where she was treated for cancer.

The 17-year-old raised more than £400 to buy toys for children spending Christmas on the oncology ward at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, which were delivered in the week running up to the big day.

Gifts ranged from rattles for babies to drones for teenagers, and Ellen hopes that they’ll have made as much of a difference to the youngsters as they did to her when she was in hospital last year.

She said: “It was really hard when I was in hospital last Christmas. I was pretty down at that point, but Alder Hey tried to make it as special as possible for us.

“It really meant a lot, so I just wanted to do the same for other kids this year.”

“It is scary but we’re just taking it one day at a time and trying to get back to normal. I’m always a nervous wreck at these things but Ellen is so strong”

Ellen Houghton’s mum Michelle

The former Great Sankey High School pupil was diagnosed with bone cancer while still at school after struggling with a knee problem.

Scans revealed that Ellen, then 15, had osteosarcoma in her knee – a rare type of bone cancer.

Following a difficult 18 months, Ellen was finally able to ring the bell at Alder Hey in September marking the end of her cancer treatment.

But she still has a challenge to face in 2019. As well as her regular 12-week check-ups, she’s facing another knee replacement operation in 2019.

Mum Michelle said: “Most people who have knee operations are a lot older than Ellen, and they usually only have one. This will be her third.

“It is scary but we’re just taking it one day at a time and trying to get back to normal. I’m always a nervous wreck at these things but Ellen is so strong.”

In fact, Ellen already has her sights set on another fundraising event for the Owen McVeigh Foundation in 2019.

The charity was set up to help children who are ill with cancer in Merseyside as well as support their families during this difficult time.

Michelle said: “They helped Ellen all the way through her treatment and so now she wants to do something in return so we’re working on something for 2019.”