Meet Hollie Evans – the 22-month-old who captured the hearts of former boxer Joe Calzaghe and singer Charlotte Church when they visited the Children’s Hospital for Wales this week.

Hollie, who has Down’s syndrome, is suffering from acute myeloid leukaemia – a rare form of cancer and a complication of the condition she was born with.

But her mother Hayley Stanley, 22, from Bridgend, said that even though the toddler is desperately ill, she continues to light up the lives of those who meet her, with her radiant smile and zest for life.

She said: “I was so proud when I saw her picture in the Western Mail and South Wales Echo, I was crying with happiness. She was doing her Victoria Beckham pout. When I went to the newsagent I got to the counter and said, ‘That’s my daughter’.

“I’m so glad people have noticed her and are giving her their time. I want everyone to know how brave my little princess is.

“I’m so glad I’ve had the chance to show her off to everyone.”

It is Hollie’s indomitable spirit which has enabled her to fight the rare form of cancer she was diagnosed with on July 9.

She has since started six months’ of intensive chemotherapy and after three sets of treatment has just 0.1% of cancer cells left in her body. She is currently in the hospital’s isolation unit of Sky ward because she has picked up an infection. Keeping a vigil there are Hayley, a care worker, and her partner Steven Evans, 29, a glazier. But nothing appears to faze her.

She was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome 10 days after she was born, but Hayley said she wouldn’t have her any other way.

Hayley said: “I was shocked at first because I was being monitored throughout my pregnancy. I looked it up on the internet after she was diagnosed and it said about short life spans and learning difficulties. There were no positive things. Some people can see the Down’s syndrome in her features but I can’t myself.”

Although the syndrome can be associated with other physical complications, such as heart problems, Hollie was free from them until she was diagnosed on July 9.

Hayley said: “I blame myself for the leukaemia. There were no problems and then Hollie comes down with the worst one. I was crying on the floor outside the hospital when she was diagnosed. I couldn’t breathe.

“The only thing that helped was seeing all the other children in the ward. There were pretty little girls in dresses with no hair were running around. They don’t know what’s happening to them and they just get on with it and enjoy themselves. As soon as Hollie gets to the car park of the hospital she gets excited because she knows she’s going to get attention.