LITTLE Katie Dodd is making a stand against the cancerous tumour which left her unable to walk.

Katie’s parents Lee and Rebecca feared she may never walk again after doctors discovered a tumour pressing on her spinal chord last September.

Since then, the Farnworth youngster has had 13 cycles of chemotherapy and travelled to America for Proton Beam Therapy — the most advanced form of radiotherapy which is not available in the UK.

Yet despite the gruelling treatment, Katie, aged five, has managed to stand for the first time in nine months in a hydrotherapy pool.

Proud mum Rebecca said: “Katie’s been doing really well and getting much stronger in physiotherapy.

“She even managed to stand the other day which was amazing. She has to hold on to the bar but she is starting to walk in the water.

“It was really lovely to see. We’re just so pleased she’s managed to build her strength back up, even when she was having her chemotherapy.”

Katie has just completed her penultimate chemotherapy cycle and is due to have her final round July 8.

She will then have to go for regular scans and tests to see whether the treatment has worked.

Mrs Dodd said: “Obviously we’re really pleased she is almost at the end of her treatment but I’m scared to be too happy about it in case she relapses. We just don’t want to set ourselves up for a fall.

“We’ve met people at the hospital who’s children have relapsed so we know it can happen. I’m just looking forward to her treatment being over.”

The whole family travelled to America for six weeks in February while Katie had the life-changing Proton Beam therapy at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

The next fundraising event for the Katie Dodd Appeal will be as part of football legends match and family fun day in Atherton on July 21.