Kate Birkbeck, 11, of Hornton, near Banbury, was nine when doctors discovered she had leukaemia on Christmas Eve.

Here, in her own words, is her story. Just like the accounts of all the other courageous, sick youngsters featured in the Oxford Mail, we believe it proves just why the Oxford Children's Hospital will be such a vital service when it opens next year. It started when I was eight or nine, although I didn't really realise I was ill to start with.

I was doing cross-country at school and I couldn't run. I just couldn't put one foot in front of the other. Then I tried to go for a walk with my mum, but I started crying and I didn't know why. I had absolutely no energy.

My mum and dad noticed I was pale, but because I've got red hair and freckles, that isn't unusual.

In the end, a friend suggested I should go to the doctor for a check-up, and then I was sent to the Horton Hospital in Banbury for a blood test.

They said it could be some kind of cancer. I wasn't really worried, because I didn't know how serious that was, but my mum was.

Going to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford was quite scary. We heard the news that I had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia on December 24, 2003.

They wanted to take me in straightaway for an intense course of chemotherapy, but because it was Christmas Eve, they let me go home.

We didn't let it spoil Christmas. I wasn't really worried. It didn't feel like a big thing. Anyway, we were with my grandmother and all my cousins were there, so it was fine. I just forgot about it.

Once Christmas was over, I started chemotherapy treatment on the ward. That was no fun, because there were other children waking up in the night and crying. It was difficult to get back to sleep.

But the chemo soon began to feel normal. I felt ill beforehand anyway, and everyone told me it had to get worse before it could get better.

The horrible bit was taking steroids. I hated them because they make you feel grumpy and hungry and you put on weight. And they stop you sleeping. I kept shouting at my friends at school.

One of my best friends started ignoring me, but then another friend talked to her and she came and gave me a big hug. It turned out she'd been really worried about me.

I missed almost a term's school, which meant it was really difficult to catch up on all the work.

I also lost my hair. You have to become more confident when you haven't got any hair to hide behind. I wore little bandanas, and that was cool.

Two years on, and I've finished the chemo and don't have to take the steroids any more, though I have to go to the JR for regular check-ups.

My energy has come back and I've recently started secondary school in Oxford.

There are two things I'd say to anyone in the same situation. The first is don't panic. There are lots of charities and support groups.

Also, unless you feel really ill, don't just lie down and feel sorry for yourself. If you get up and do things, you often feel better.

I think the new children's hospital is going to be great, because it is quite crowded at the moment.

I started treatment as it started being built, and I have gone through treatment as it is getting bigger and bigger. I can't wait for it to be finished so that I can finally see inside.