A little girl who could barely walk before Oxford Mail readers helped pay for a life-changing operation will be starring in a pantomime on Monday night.

Nine-year-old Gulshat Kadyrova was born without hip sockets and came with her mother from Turkmenistan in January 2006 for the hip operation at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre.

And thanks to readers of the Oxford Mail, who helped raise £15,000 to pay for the operation, Gulshat is now able to take centre stage as the dancing Bluebird for the Cumnor-based Toastmasters International production of Hansel and Gretel.

Her mother Bahar said: “She is doing so well. I would never have thought she would be in a position to do this.

“Every Christmas she is able to do a little bit more and although it is only a little something, it is important.

“When we talk about the pantomime, she is so happy and so excited.

“It is very good to see people are still interested in how Gulshat’s life is going.

“In my country, if you have a problem with your health, you are like second best, but here in Oxford she has found she can do whatever she wants.”

Gulshat, who is a pupil at Cumnor Primary School where she is known as Lily, had surgery in March 2006 and was able to run for the first time in April 2006.

Although doctors discovered she also had scoliosis, meaning she has to wear a brace and will need an operation on her spine, she now takes ballet classes and will perform at the pantomime festival at The Unicorn, Chipping Norton, on Monday Gulshat said: “I am very happy and excited, because it really feels like Christmas is coming.

“Now that I can dance, and go on stage, I feel so happy. If I could speak to the people who read the Oxford Mail I would say thank you for raising money for me. Today I feel really good.”

Anne Anderson, who has let Gulshat and her mother live with her and is the director of the pantomime, said: “She is the little Bluebird that makes everything all right and that fits her life very well because everything is beginning to be all right.”

It costs several hundred pounds a month to pay for medical treatment and other expenses, and the spinal operation is likely to cost at least £30,000.

Gulshat and her mother will soon need to move from Mrs Anderson’s home as she needs space for her own family.

If anyone has suitable accommodation in the Cumnor area they can call Jennie de Vries on 07913 378211.

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk