A BRAVE schoolgirl who was always ready to support others despite suffering from cancer has won a national accolade.

Seventeen-year-old Louisa Murphy, of Barnfield Road, Stourport, came home from holiday to news she was chosen for a special young people's award launched last April by Education Secretary David Blunkett.

Louisa, who wants to be a nurse, was nominated by schoolmates to win a Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Award which recognises "exemplary" personal qualities shown in difficult circumstances.

The school was so impressed by Louisa's friends' stories of her willingness to help others in trouble while herself undergoing unpleasant treatment for cancer of the knee, head teacher Liz Quinn put her name forward in June.

The awards available to 12 to 18-year-olds in schools throughout the UK were given to 237 young people during the pilot stage of the scheme to celebrate youngsters who give caring and altruistic service often in a quiet and inconspicuous way.

One friend wrote a letter to the judges saying Louisa "was there for me and talked me through" when she was also on crutches because of a knee problem.

Louisa was diagnosed with cancer in 1996 and had to undergo six chemotherapy sessions over a year, which made her feel "awful".

Now she is in remission and feels well but although her knee is much improved she is not allowed to run or take part in "contact" sports.

Louisa said: "I always wanted to be a nurse and they said the treatment would put me off.

"But it has made me more determined than ever."

Her other main interest is jazz band playing which started when she was only four years old.

A kazoo player with the Zodiacs Marching Band, she said: "I may not be able to run but as along as I can keep marching, that is the most important thing."