EXACTLY three years ago a close-knit family from Wantage abandoned Christmas.

Their world fell apart when four-year-old Mikayla Beames was diagnosed with brain cancer.

This year Christmas is being celebrated again because the little girl, from Chapel Way, Childrey, now seven, is fighting the devastating disease better than her mum thought possible.

Earlier this month, Mikayla set up a tombola stall at the Wantage Dickensian Evening raising £417.15 for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Mum Natasha Beames, 32, said: “She is just a true inspiration; she takes it all in her stride.

“She never has a miserable face on her, she’s always smiling.

“You can’t imagine being told your child has cancer, your whole life comes apart.

“But when Mikayla is in hospital and other parents are told the same news she puts her arms around them and says ‘it isn’t all bad, you have to come to this boring place sometimes but it’s not that bad’.”

It was Mikayla’s idea to run a stall to raise money because of what the charity has done for her and her family.

She said: “I wanted to thank them, and say Merry Christmas.”

Mikayla was diagnosed on December 18, 2010.

She started her second round of chemotherapy in July which she has to have once a week every week until July 2014.

Mrs Beames and husband Ian also have Liam, 13, Luke, four, Annie, three, and Christopher, five months.

Mrs Beames added: “It was three years ago since the first diagnosis and our whole lives were turned upside down.

“Life hasn’t been the same since.

“It was the week before Christmas that we were told so Christmas went out the window that year.

“She was actually in hospital the whole of last week with an infection and we were told she might not be home for Christmas.’’ The family has been supported by national charity for children with cancer CLIC Sargent.

When Mikayla is at the Oxford Children’s Hospital in Headington the family can stay at the nearby “home from home” in Jack Straw’s Lane.

Mrs Beames said: “It means so much to be able to stay close to your child we wanted to say thank you. I just go when I am really tired and don’t want to be far away, or it means we can have family meals there.”

Mikayla, who goes to Wantage Primary School, has signed up her parents and siblings to run in Wantage Race for Life for charity on April 27 next year.