THE Gazette this week features the stories of three courageous youngsters whose stories should be an inspiration to us all.

Lydia Harding, 16, of Chippenham, is involved in a painful fight against cancer. Her quiet courage and determination to stave off the effects of her illness have moved Gazette readers so much they have donated more than £42,000 to fund alternative treatment in Mexico.

She flew out yesterday to begin the treatment and the wishes of everyone who has either met Lydia or read about her, will go with her.

Her parents have taken a difficult decision to forego conventional treatment because Lydia had already endured painful chemotherapy for a tumour on her leg.

When a consultant urged her to undergo more chemotherapy to tackle a secondary tumour on her lung the youngster begged not to have to go through it again. Who can blame any parent for not wanting to see their child suffer so much a second time? Especially when there is only a 25 per cent chance of success.

Ben Sheppard, six, of Compton Bassett, has shown remarkable bravery in the aftermath of the car crash that killed his five-year-old sister Tamara-Jayne. Despite suffering horrific leg injuries the youngster remains cheerful and optimistic and a credit to his parents, Penny and Lee.

This young family have suffered a dreadful ordeal and while nothing can make up for the loss of Tamara-Jayne, Mr and Mrs Sheppard must have drawn some comfort from their son's wonderful determination.

The support from the community in Calne and Compton Bassett must also have given them a tremendous lift.

At the Gazette the plight of tiny Rosa Flaherty has been of interest because her parents, Sean and Charlie, work here. Rosa was born 15 weeks early and weighing 1lb 8oz. Now she weighs almost 5lbs and is thriving.

Her fight against the odds has been helped in no small measure by the excellent care and attention devoted to her by doctors in Hammersmith and at the Princess Margaret Hospital ,in Swindon.

The NHS may be under fire in some quarters for not delivering but Rosa is living proof that in some areas it does a wonderful job.