A YOUNG girl from Anglesey who suffered a stroke at just one day old was the special guest at the starting line of a race in aid of the Stroke Association over the weekend.

Despite having cerebral palsy and epilepsy, Lilly Patrick still battles on a daily basis alongside twin sister Daisy.

On Sunday, the Ysgol Caergeiliog pupil was given the task of sounding the klaxon to send participants on their way from the Resolution Run starting line.

Taking place right on her doorstep in Newborough, the 5-year-old waved over 300 runners, including mum Claire, on their way to completing 5k and 10k races.

There was also a canicross race in which participants ran alongside with their dog(s).

After completing a fundraising trek up Snowdon alongside husband John and daughter Lilly last year, Claire decided to take on her first ever run on behalf of the Stroke Association, raising roughly £540.

“It went really well, although it was a lot harder than I thought as I took on the 10k,” Claire said.

“Everybody who came along to watch me were very supportive and I finished with a time of 1hr 17mins. Both Lilly and Daisy woke up very happy on Monday and they haven’t stopped running around with their medals.”

Claire, who studies psychology at Bangor University, says she is looking forward to taking on even more fundraisers on behalf of the Stroke Association in the near future.

“I would love to do more to help raise money for the charity,” she said.

“I will see what comes up in the next few months and give them a go. I’m also going to prepare myself for next year’s Resolution Run and hopefully finish in a better time.”

Earlier this year, Lilly was rewarded for her bravery when she won the ‘Children and Young People’s Courage Award’ at the Stroke Association Awards ceremony in Manchester.

Speaking about Lilly’s condition, mum Claire added: “It’s been an interesting first five years of her life for us that’s for sure.

““Lilly always cried a lot as a baby. I was in and out of hospital with her, but doctors didn’t take it seriously, until she became very unwell at six months old and was diagnosed with having infantile spasms and cerebral palsy, which they said could leave her seriously disabled.

“No matter what is thrown her way she proves everyone wrong and is the amazing, bright, wonderful girl she is today, with great help from Daisy.”