A weekend Sarah will never forget

On Saturday she was one of three princess presiding over Ninfield Carnival, something she has long wanted to do, and said the experience was even better than expected.

On Sunday she took part with mother Jane (the pair are pictured) in a charity bike ride - together they raised 500 for Leukaemia Research.

Sarah, of Hawkhurst Way, was too young to take part in the gruelling marathon with Jane, so spent an hour cycling around a special circuit at the Royal Chelsea Hospital.

She completed 22 laps in that time and Jane said: "Sarah was not old enough to go in the race with me so she did the other event. It was exceedingly hot, about 30 degrees, so she went as red as a beetroot but she was fine.

"It was a memorable weekend for her, what with being a carnival princess - she didn't get out of her dress until evening time, she really did enjoy that day. It was a lovely experience, especially when they rode in the pony and trap which was wonderful.

Then the next morning we left at 6.10 to go up to London for the day, we knew it would be hot and it was but it was really a fantastic day."

Recovering from her own bike ride which was a full 26-mile marathon through the streets of London, Jane said: "There was a brilliant atmosphere and it was very well organised."

She had been extremely tired after the event, but by next day was finding it easier to sit down.

"Some of the ride, such as when we were going around Canary Wharf and the docklands, was really quiet; you'd be riding along and it was so peaceful and lovely, and you'd be seeing all these London sights.

But I didn't want to stop, I felt compelled to keep going and keep going, so I took in the sights as I went along."

Sarah was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2001 when she was seven, and fought bravely to beat the disease for which she was treated at Southampton General Hospital. She is now in remission.

A pupil of Ninfield County Primary school, she is in year six and is soon to move on to Claverham.