AN inspirational disabled girl has been given an award for her courage after undergoing more than 30 major operations and still remaining cheerful and positive.

Eight-year-old Elise Fullard, from Dursley, was given the certificate to mark her bravery by Cerebra, a charity that helps children with brain-related conditions.

Just after she was born Elise was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, which is a condition linked to the brain but which can cause a range of different movement disabilities. She also suffered a minor stroke following bleeding on the brain and as a result has a weak right hand side and minor brain damage.

Both of these conditions cause a range of symptoms for little Elise and she has just as many bad days as good.

She is a patient of Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and has spent many months of her life on their wards undergoing operations.

And yet when she is better Elise, who has a three-year-old sister Millie and seven-year-old brother Luke, throws herself back into school life.

Her mother Lucy says she is an inspiration to her.

"I don’t know how she does it, she is just amazing."

Elise goes to Cam Everlands Primary School and whenever she can joins in the after-school dance club and choir. She tries to catch up with missed work as soon as possible and is even in the school cross-country team. "The school has been amazing," said Lucy, whose husband Simon is a music teacher. "They help her to catch up with her work and let her join in all the activities just like all the other children.

"We try not to wrap her up in cotton wool, we want her to know she can have a go at doing what any other children do and she does amazingly well.

"But she has a lot to deal with so she has to work that bit harder than everyone else, but she has never given up. She is just an inspiration to me."

When Elise catches a bug or cold she can become very ill and on bad days she needs a wheelchair. The family has had to deal with many emergencies when she has to be rushed to hospital for an operation. On many occasions she has spent months in hospital.

Susan Avis, assistant head teacher at Cam Everlands, said: "Despite over 30 operations and a need for ongoing medical care Elise is always cheerful, smiley and the first to notice if any classmates need help."

Lucy added: "It means a lot for us that Elise was given this award, she really deserves it."

Chris Jones, chief executive of Cerebra said: "It is clear that Elise is a very brave young lady, in the past 12 months she has been admitted to hospital numerous times. Cerebra were proud to present Elise with a certificate in recognition of her courage."