'Brandon is our hero and a total inspiration' Echo2 IT'S ALL ABOUT PEOPLE.

Byline: By CATHY OWEN

SUSAN Pope has a real-life hero who is her complete inspiration - her eight-year-old son.

Brandon was only five years old when he was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

It was a diagnosis that completely turned the Popes' lives upside down and for the past three years, Brandon has had to undergo gruelling chemotherapy.

But his mum believes they couldn't have got through it without Brandon's bravery and the fact he hardly ever complains.

"It all came horribly out of the blue three years ago last month," explains Susan, from Fleur de Lys.

"Brandon had played football as normal but the next day he complained of being really achy. We just thought it was from the football, that he had strained a muscle or something. We took him to the doctor but he couldn't find anything wrong with him. When it didn't get any better we took Brandon to accident and emergency. They did an X-ray but couldn't find anything. But they also did more tests and that was when we were told the devastating news that Brandon had leukaemia. To tell you the truth, I can't remember much about that time, it was all a bit of a blur at that time. It is like I have blocked it out."

Back at home plans had to be made quickly for family to look after their other two young children - 13-month-old daughter, Alex, and a 12-week-old daughter, Nina.

Brandon was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where Susan and her husband Gareth stayed by his bedside, day and night, for the next three weeks.

"Our whole outlook on life changed in a flash," admits Susan.

"We stayed with Brandon for the whole time. Our family were fantastic looking after the girls and bringing them down to see us. We just couldn't have left Brandon in the hospital on his own, so we stayed with him the whole time."

But Susan believes it is Brandon's spirit and approach to life that has got them through the difficult time.

Which is why she nominated him this year for a Cancer Research Little Stars Award. The award is presented to nominated children under the age of 17 who have, or are, courageously battling cancer.

Cancer Research UK is the UK's largest single funder of research into children's cancers.

With a spend of nearly pounds 9m last year, this investment has helped bring about huge advances in treatments. Seven out of 10 youngsters with cancer are now successfully treated in the UK, compared with fewer than three out of 10 in the 1960s.

"Like I said our outlook on life has changed," said Susan.

"We have learnt to just enjoy things and not to worry so much about the material things.

"And we couldn't have got through everything so well if it hadn't been for Brandon. He copes so well with things.

We explain everything to him but he doesn't ask loads of questions, he just accepts it.

"He didn't like losing his hair but he had no problem going into treatment even though it hurts and made him sick. We never had to hold him down or make him do something he didn't want to do, that would have been really hard.

"As long as he was prepared, he was OK. So if he was going to have an injection that was going to hurt a little bit, we would tell him it would hurt a little bit and he was fine with it. It certainly made our lives a lot easier and we realised just how brave our little boy is."

Brandon's treatment finishes on December 17 - a date the whole family are counting down to with excitement.

Brandon will have regular blood checks for the next five years and will need physiotherapy on his legs and joints.

But the family are hoping that Brandon will make a full recovery.

And they are planning a magical trip to America and Disney World in March to celebrate.

"We are really looking forward to the trip, it is all Brandon can talk about at the moment, even more than Christmas," she said.

"We took him when he was really ill and promised that we would take him back again when he was well again.

So we are all going out there in March with my parents."

And, yesterday, Brandon was handed his award for courage during a short presentation at his home.

"I nominated Brandon because he is our hero," explains Susan.

"He is a complete inspiration to us.

Brandon just gets up and gets on with things and he doesn't complain. He loves going to school, Fleur De Lys Primary, and although he has missed about 50 per cent of the time, when he can he goes and loves going to school. It was a shock at the start for everyone but they all accept it now and that Brandon is just Brandon to us all.

"He is a total inspiration and I felt he deserves something nice and we really wanted him to know just how very, very proud we are of him."

A fitting reward for amazing courage

THE COURAGE of South Wa les children who have encountered cancer is recognised with the unique award Brandon has received.

The Cancer Research UK's annual Little Star Awards in partnership with TK Maxx, which was launched today has received the backing of celebrities like Leona Lewis and David Tennant.

And relatives and friends of young cancer patients or survivors from across the region are being urged to nominate them now for special recognition in the run up to Christmas. Unlike other children's awards, there is no judging panel because Cancer Research UK and TK Maxx believe each and every child who confronts cancer is extra special.

Each recipient will receive a pounds 100 TK Maxx voucher, a chrome trophy and a certificate signed by ahost of stars from the worlds of TV, music and sport.

Karen Davis, Cancer Research UK senior press officer for Wales, said: "The Little Star Awards - now in their sixth year - allow us to recognise the unique challenges faced by youngsters diagnosed with cancer and salute their courage. "To nominate a Little Star send an e-mail to: [e-mail] or visit the website at: www.cancerresearchuk.org/little star The awards are open to all under-17s who have cancer or have been treated for the disease in the last five years.

CAPTION(S):

SO PROUD: Brandon with his dad Gareth; HAT'S MAGIC: Brandon shared a joke with Brent Cockbain when he met the Wales rugby player at the Children's Hospital of Wales in January 2006; WELL DESERVED: Brandon Pope receives his award from Karen Davies from Cancer Research PICTURES: Mark Fraser