THIS time last year Paula Evans was singing her way to success on the stage to raise money for sick children.

But in a cruel twist of fate, Paula, aged 11, is now ill herself after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in January.

The tumour was attached to the brainstem and left her with double vision, unsteady balance and in a wheelchair because of her extreme tiredness.

After a five-hour operation to remove most of the tumour, she underwent six weeks of radiotherapy and has now started a 12-month course of chemotherapy at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury.

Paula's life has already been touched by tragedy. Her first two years were spent in care until she was adopted by Jo Evans and her husband Keith. When Paula was five, Keith died aged 46 from internal bleeding.

Mrs Evans said: "When Keith died, it was such a shock. By the time we knew it was internal bleeding and it was too late.

"When we were told Paula was ill, it brought back awful memories."

Paula, from Harwood, has singing lessons at Tracie Ross' singing school, also in Harwood. Last year she made it through to the final of the Talented Youngster of the Year competition, run by charity Destination Florida, which raises money to send sick children to Disneyworld.

On Saturday, she will be back at the same event at Old Trafford - but this time as one of the sick children.

But she hopes to sing at the event once again.

Paula said: "I have been asked back to sing and I want to sing a song from the film Pearl Harbour, but I'll see how I am."

The youngster started feeling ill last Christmas, suffering from regular headaches and sickness.

After a visit to the doctor, her headaches got worse and she was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital. Tests revealed the family's worst nightmare.

Mrs Evans said: "Paula is really chatty but she switched off when they said she had a brain tumour.

"I felt really frightened, but hospital staff, at Bolton, Pendlebury and Christie's, have all been wonderful.

"Just before the operation, Paula went very quiet so I knew she was frightened too. It was a long five hours and she was very poorly afterwards."

Paula said: "It was harder for my mum than me because at least I was asleep while it was going on. The treatment made me feel grim; very sick and tired. But I feel better now."

The youngster has regular kidney and hearing tests, and underwent a blood transfusion this week. A scan later this month will show if there has been any re-growth of the tumour.

Paula has just started Canon Slade school, which she attends for a few hours a day when she is well enough. She also receives home tuition from Bolton Education Authority.

She was at Hardy Mill primary school when she was diagnosed with the illness, and her classmates bought he a laptop computer.

Paula thanked her two best friends, Katie Gray and Mollie Kay-Hough, for all their support.