A STUDENT who scored straight As in her A-levels while battling leukaemia for the second time to win a place at one of the world's leading universities is run the Manchester Marathon to celebrate being five years cancer free.

Ellie Harding, now aged 23-years-old, was first diagnosed with leukaemia in January 2011 at 14-years-old in 2011.

In April 2014 she underwent a successful bone marrow transplant after the condition returned in December 2013.

The operation and the follow-up treatment after she suffered a reaction to a drug, meant Ellie missed many of her A-level classes at Bolton School.

But Ellie's determination to study hard during her illness and recovering paid off with her achieving 3A* A an A* in her EPQ ­— extended project qualification ­— to gain her a place to study medicine at the University of Cambridge.

Now she is in her second of her six year degree and will be balancing her studies with training for the Manchester Marathon. She will be running to raise money and awareness of for CATS ­— cancer awareness in teenagers and young people.

The former Bolton School girl said: "I enjoyed running before I was diagnosed with the condition, and ran before I was diagnosed with it again.

"I wanted to do the marathon last year but had some health problems which were related to my immune system, which also led me to lose feeling in my legs. But I have started building up the running again.

"I run three or four times a week and swim in between. Crossing the finishing line means that I can do it. I had cancer and now I have gone past it."

Ellie said she wanted to raise awareness of the CATS because of the support it had given her at university.

"It is only a small charity, and I am able to talk about any worries I have and speak to other people who have been through this. Also doing this is about giving back something because of all those people who have helped me."

Before being diagnosed with the condition for the second time, Ellie ran the Manchester 10K in 2012 to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

The young medic, who says she cannot wait to qualify as a doctor, said: "This is the most challenging run I have done."

Nearer the time of the run, she is planning to set up a justgiving page for people to support her and learn more about the organisation.