A BRAVE schoolgirl has shrugged aside her own battle with a painful disease to set up a singing and dancing fundraiser to help a classmate fighting leukaemia.

Kendra Agnew, 14, suffers from lupus, a disease which almost killed her at the age of 10, and has left her with a severe allergy to daylight.

But the determined Sandbach High School pupil, who lives at Nigel Gresley Close in Crewe, brushed aside her own problems to spend months organising a 1970s and 80s production for her friend Charlee Taylor, 13, who is undergoing chemotherapy to fight leukaemia.

Kendra said: 'Charlee is still poorly and we each have a personal experience of lost family, friends or illness.

'Lupus is a silent disease and can't be seen. I am sometimes very poorly and the disease can flare up without warning. My friends are supportive and I am grateful to all taking part.

'We now have a performance lined up. Ticket sales are going well with over 100 already sold.' Lupus is a disease in which the immune system treats the body's tissue as a foreign substance and produces antibodies to fight it.

The damage caused by these antibodies may produce symptoms such as a facial rash, headaches, severe fatigue, arthritic joint disease, heart damage, shortness of breath, and impaired kidney function.

The fundraiser will be held at Sandbach High School, Middlewich Road, on Thursday, April 1, and will feature more than 50 youngsters.

Kendra added: 'The money raised will be split between lupus and leukaemia research charities.'

Anyone who would like to donate to the 70s and 80s night is invited to phone Kendra or her mum Paula on 01270 588282.

Tickets are available from Manhattan Limousines on 07956 425505 or at the school reception. Prices are £5 adults, £1.50 for under 16s.