Ref. 28445-09CANCER battler Bethany Robinson says she is having too much fun to think about her illness.

Bethany, who will celebrate her fifth birthday on January 23, has shouldered more responsibility than many adults ever do. But you wouldn't guess it from her constant smile.

The youngster's scans over the past couple of years have repeatedly come back with good results suggesting she has beaten neuroblastoma, a childhood cancer, that she has battled since she was just three months old.

And not only is she a fighter, she is also a scholar in the making.

After a term at Moredon Infants School, in Akers Way, Bethany is top of the class in reading and maths, and loves every minute of her lessons.

She said: "I have made a lot of friends and I like playing with them. I've got a boyfriend called Craig.

"I'm looking forward to my birthday. I'm going to have a joint party with my best friend Leanne, who lives next door. Leanne will be six the week before."

Bethany has acted as her parents' ears for the past few years as both Steve, 41, and Tracy Robin-son, 35, are deaf, since contracting measles in childhood.

She is also a loving big sister to little Aimee, who will be three in June.

Tracy said: "Bethany's last scan is in May, which will be five years clear since her operation. I'm sure I will miss the scans and the peace of mind each one brings but the doctors are so confident we have seen the last of her illness.

"The scans have always been good news, thankfully. We still think back to the time she was diagnosed.

"It's something that will never go away, the shock and the disbelief. But as each year goes by, and Bethany continues to be so fit and healthy, we think of it less and less but the memories will never go away completely."

Bethany's illness couldn't have been further from her mind this Christmas, which she spent at home in Moredon with Aimee and the rest of her family.

Tracy said: "Christmas and New Year is always special to our family. As the girls are getting older they are getting more excited about Santa and presents and family get-togethers. It's wonderful to watch.

"This year we had nine family members for dinner on Christmas day. We might be doing it all again for New Year with 12 people. But I don't mind. I love getting the family together."

Tracy said that she and Steve have decided not to have any more children. She explained: "Both girls were in hospital with convulsions and Bethany had a longer stay, obviously with cancer.

"The chances are if we have any more children they will have convulsions too, as it's a family hereditary condition. Really we have had enough of hospitals. We are very happy with our two."

Bethany is already a Swindon celebrity. She won the young person category of the Good Citizen Awards in 2002 and has been an ambassador for the Cancer Research Campaign in Swindon.

Alex Emery