INSPIRED by her cousin, a young girl has dedicated her free time to fundraising.

Skylar Reece started fundraising as part of an appeal to raise money for her cousin four-year-old Braiden-Lee Prescott who was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in 2012.

The seven-year-old has taken part in sponsored walks and a dance competition as well as sold homemade cakes and bracelets.

Her mum Samantha said: “She has seen what her cousin has gone through. She has been to hospital with Braiden and seen other poorly children on the ward and I think that’s why she wants to help.”

Braiden is now in recovery after his latest treatment but his family are still raising money in case he relapses.

Now she is on a mission to raise as much money as she can for Wigan and Leigh Hospice as she has been chosen as a contestant in the final of the Miss Teen Wigan Beauty.

“We’ve never entered anything like a pageant before so we don’t really know what to expect but she is really looking forward to it,” said Samantha.

“One of her other cousins has autism and so after she has taken part in the beauty pageant for Wigan and Leigh Hospice she is going to start raising money for the Autism Society.”

The seven-year-old St John’s Primary School pupil is planning to pack bags at a supermarket and sell homemade jam in the coming weeks with the help of her grandmother Jean.

She needs to raise as much as she can before the pageant on July 6 to boost her chances of winning the competition.

Jean, of Crankwood Road, Leigh, said: “She is such a bright little girl that wants help people and children less fortunate than herself.”

To find out more visit Skylar’s facebook page, Skylar Reece Miss Little Wigan Beauty 2014 Finalist.