Mikayla Beames may only be nine but she is battling brain cancer and helping other children doing the same.

The Wantage youngster has been having chemotherapy for the last four years, constantly moving in and out of the Kamran’s Ward at the Oxford Chldren’s Hospital.

But fighting her own disease is not enough for Mikayla, who has set up her own appeal Team Mikayla to collect presents for other children on the ward.

In the appeal’s first event she arranged for Father Christmas to give out 120 boxes of sweets and toys last week, helping out while dressed as Tinkerbell.

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Mikayla, who is visually impaired because of a tumour growing on her optic nerve, said: “Look at how happy their faces are, they are so happy. I would like to do more of this.

“It’s nice to see that Santa does think about us still and hasn’t forgotten about us.”

Her mum Natasha said: “Mikayla had to spend last Christmas here so she knows what that’s like.

“She’s been looking forward to this for ages.”

The 33-year-old said: “Team Mikayla aims to give pleasure boxes and gifts to kids with cancer.

“It’s all Mikayla’s idea. She wants children to start writing to her asking for a wish and she will hopefully grant it.

“We’re thinking things like family days out or boxes of toys for when they’re in hospital. Family time is very important when you have cancer and life is very hampering when you’re recovering from chemotherapy.“ Since the appeal was set up in September it has raised £2,500, but hopes to raise more continuously throughout the year.

Mrs Beames, also mum to Liam, 14, Luke, five, Annie, four and one-year-old Christopher, said: “To be able to provide as many wishes as we can would be great.

“Every day there’s a new patient in the Kamran’s Ward, so we’re looking at this as a long-term aim to be able to give every child something.

“It’s just Kamran’s Ward for now, but we’re hoping to expand in the future.”

For more information on Team Mikayla visit facebook.com/mikaylasteam

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