A Bath teenager who was determined not to let a brain tumour stand in the way of his beloved tae kwon do has achieved his black belt.
Daniel Kimmins, 14, from Odd Down, was a yellow belt – five below a black – in the sport he loved when at the age of six he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
His mum Heidi and instructor Rob Morris thought he would never train again, but Daniel, a pupil at Ralph Allen School, was determined to return to the sport.
His hard work and dedication paid off, and moved up through the belts and eventually reached black.
Mrs Kimmins said: "It was incredibly painful to watch Daniel going through his treatment, as he cried all through the sessions and found just simple things that we all take for granted such as standing up difficult.
"I could never have imagined that he would go back to his tae kwon do club, let alone get his black belt.
"He was offered an honorary black belt, but he didn't want this, he wanted to earn it.
"For any tae kwon do student to get to the stage where they take their black belt grading takes hard work and dedication.
"I know that Daniel had to work twice as hard as most students due to the effects of the tumour and treatment had on him.
"I am incredibly proud of him."
Daniel's battle began eight years ago, when he started suffering from constant headaches and vomiting, causing his worried mum to take him to the Royal United Hospital.
He was diagnosed with a brain tumour, and transferred to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol for two operations.
Five weeks later, he was moved to Bristol Children's Hospital for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Daniel faced another challenge to learn to walk and talk again, after one operation to remove the tumour left him mute and unable to move the left side of his body.
The cancer had also spread to his spine, confining him to a wheelchair for two years.
He fought back, returning to school and his beloved tae kwon do, and in 2009 was given a Cancer Research UK Little Star Award. Earlier this year, Daniel's bravery and determination were recognised by a panel of judges and he was named Young Person of the Year in the Bath Chronicle and BMI Bath Clinic Pride Awards
Daniel has suffered from balance problems since his operation, he has to take steroids to give him energy and he has severe hearing loss due to the damage left by the radiotherapy.
He will continue to be on medication for the rest of his life.
But Mrs Kimmins said: "I hope Daniel's story can give hope to other families going through the same thing. When Daniel was diagnosed we didn't know of any other children who had beaten it. Now I want to show other families how well Daniel has come, and give them hope."
"If we can help just one other family it will be worth it."
"I was never given any hope for Daniel when he was in hospital and I am sure his doctors didn't think he would make it.
"Which is why getting his black belt is so precious and the fact that he wanted to earn it, makes it even more special."
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