Maisie Bye, of Shireoaks, was born with congenital heart disease and is starting the race on Sunday to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

She had open heart surgery when she was just three years old, and another major operation at the age of seven left her so weak that she had to spend over 14 months in a wheelchair.

Her mum Melanie, 46, is proud to see her daughter so positive after battling against so many health problems.

“Maisie has been through such a rough time of it but she has a fantastic outlook on life and we are very proud of her,” she said.

”The medical team at Leeds General Infirmary were fantastic and she is now doing great and looking onwards and upwards to the future.”

Since her final operation in August last year, she is now learning to ride a bike, swim and started school in January.

”She is very excited to be starting the Larwood 10k on Sunday and we hope as many people turn out and support the BHF as possible.”

Though Melanie is just starting the race, a teacher at her school – St Luke’s Primary School in Shireoaks – is running the full 10k.

All money raised at the event will be donated to the BHF.

Runners can take on the 10k challenge, which starts at 11am, and there will also be a fun run at 10.30am.

Starting at the Hewitt Arms at Shireoaks, the route will take runners through Netherthorpe, Thorpe Salvin and Turner Wood.

All fun run finishers will be awarded a medal and those who complete the 10k run will get a T-shirt.

Entry is £6.50 if you are affiliated to a running club and £8.50 if not. The fun run is £2 to pre-enter and £3 on the day.

All proceeds will go towards the pioneering research and the care and education work of the BHF.

The Larwood event raised £4,000 when it was first launched back in 2006.

For more information, you can go to www.2pointb.co.uk