A miraculous youngster will celebrate her third birthday by taking part in the Perkins Great Eastern Run.

On October 12, Maya, 2, will join her parents Fay Dovey and Aaron Ratcliffe, of Whittlesey, as they look to raise funds for charity Shine.

Maya’s family hope she will have her first self-propelling wheelchair for the fun run, enabling her to do some of the hard work for herself.

She might even be able to wheel herself – or even walk – over the finish line this year.

Maya was born five weeks premature at the Royal Bolton Hospital with spina bifida and hydrocephalus and rushed to Manchester Children’s Hospital.

In the first three months following her birth she had five operations and contracted meningitis, which left her fighting for her life.

Despite this, and many more trips to the hospital to help her with her epilepsy, Maya has overcome every hurdle.

Fay Dovey said: “Maya is the most independent, strong-minded little lady I know. She is so determined to do everything she puts her mind to. Nothing is going to stop Maya achieving her dreams.”

Maya and her parents took part in last year’s fun run and raised £690 for Shine. This year, they want to raise even more,

Miss Dovey said: “Without Shine, we would not have our family. Shine have been there since day one of Maya’s diagnosis, and the support, information, and advice at every step of the way has been second to none. Without this, we would not have thought our son Max would be possible.

“Shine is a part of our family and we want to say a great big thank you to everyone at Shine for all they do. We hope the money we raise helps Shine to help other families and individuals just like us who need their help.”

If runners would like to join Maya and her family in supporting Shine in the Perkins Great Eastern Run,call Shine’s fundraising officer, Shelley Green, at shelley.green@shinecharity.org.uk.

You can make a donation at www.justgiving.com/hungrycaterpillars