Cancer survivor diagnosed at just 11 weeks old

Libby Key was diagnosed with a brain tumour at 11 weeks old

A woman who was diagnosed with a brain tumour as a baby has said her experience ignited in her a passion to work with children.

Libby Key, 20, from Sherborne, had surgery on her tumour when she was just 11 weeks old and went on to become an early years practitioner.

She is the subject of a new film produced by Children with Cancer UK, which aims to raise awareness through the stories of some extraordinary people.

Ms Key said: "There is no way I would have this level of empathy and passion towards children if I didn’t go through what I went through.”

Siblings Seb and Libby Key both feature in the film for Children with Cancer UK

Ms Key's mother, a nurse, noticed that her daughter's vision was not what it should have been for her age and took her to a GP to get it checked.

An MRI scan later found a tumour in the centre of her brain and Ms Key said it was only a couple of years ago she found out "the tumour was the size of a plum sat on my optic nerve, which was making me blind".

Her eyesight recovered after surgery but she said the cancer has still "impacted her life".

Ms Key said: “There are definitely still things that I struggle with.

"As I have grown older I just got better at knowing how to manage them.

"I do have hard days but I don’t want my condition to limit or take away from my dreams and ambitions.”

Seb said he has been inspired by his sister Libby

The film also captures the close bond Ms Key has with her two older brothers.

Seb Key was so inspired by his sister's journey that he now works for Children with Cancer UK.

Mr Key said: “Whilst Libby has had a very difficult journey to where she is, we always wanted her to feel like there was nothing that was going to be in her way.

“Libs has come out of her entire journey just wanting to work with children."

Mr Key will attempt to run Iceland’s Ring Road, a national highway that circles the entire country, covering a distance of 820 miles (1,320km) in just over two weeks.

He will be doing the challenge in September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, to raise funds for Children with Cancer UK.

The charity's CEO Amar Naher, said, “Libby’s strength and determination is truly inspirational. Her unwavering support for our charity and its cause by sharing her story will help improve outcomes for thousands of children."