Five years ago Amanda Dewbery was woken by the sound of her four-year-old daughter crying for help.

She rushed into her daughter's room and found her on the floor, unable to lift herself up.

Lily had suffered a stroke overnight and had fallen out of her bed.

With the left side of her body unresponsive, she was unable to get up.

Mrs Dewberry said: 'I recognised the signs of a stroke from the adverts on TV, but I couldn't comprehend the thought of my four-year-old daughter having one.'

Lily, who is from Lowestoft, was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where she was treated for a week before returning home.

Years of hard work and physiotherapy followed.

Mrs Dewbery said: 'At the beginning it was terrible.

'Everyday life was completely different. People say you get tired after a stroke but it was more than that – Lily was completely exhausted.'

For the first 18-months Lily was restricted to her old buggy when leaving the house but day by day she grew stronger.

Mrs Dewbery said: 'I realise now we were incredibly lucky. Some children are left in a much worse condition after a stroke.'

And now, aged nine, the stroke survivor will take part in a 5K run to raise money and awareness for those who have gone through similar ordeals.

Lily hopes to raise £500 for the Stroke Association by completing the charity's Resolution Run on Sunday, February 25, at Norwich's Catton Park.

The heroic youngster said she was 'excited' to take part in the event and added: 'I want to raise more money to help other children who have had strokes.

'I'm going to walk as far as I can and have been exercising to get my body strong so I can do it.'

As well as training with her father on the family's cross trainer Lily has been completing 5K park runs with her mother each Sunday in preparation.

With a personal best of 48 minutes to beat, Lily is ready for the challenge ahead.

Mrs Dewbery describes her daughter as simply 'awesome'.

She said: 'Lily is so resilient; we could all learn a thing or two from her. She never moans or complains – she just gets on with it.'

What is the Resolution Run?

Stroke Association provides support to change the lives of strokes survivors by funding vital services and life-changing research.

The charity's Resolution Run in Catton Park, Norwich, aims to raise money and awareness for stroke survivors.

George Burroughs, of the Stroke Association, said: 'A Resolution Run is exactly that – a resolution for the New Year that counts.

'It's the ideal event for people who want to do something fun together, while getting more active in 2018.

'Every five minutes in the UK, someone's life is turned upside down by a stroke.

'By signing up to a Resolution Run, each runner will help us do so much more to support stroke survivors and their families as they rebuild their lives.

'We are thrilled that Lily and Amanda are taking part and are looking forward to cheering them on alongside other participants as they make their way through the park.'

To sponsor Lily, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/amanda-dewbery2