The day after celebrating his first birthday, he was taken to hospital with a lump on the back of his neck.

Tests revealed the youngster had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and a day after being diagnosed, little Eliot's three-and-a-half-year course of chemotherapy began.

As medics started the sessions, they discovered a problem, and his parents, Michelle, 39, and David, 40, were dealt another blow when a heart defect was discovered.

Eliot, of Fulwell, desperately needed surgery to repair a leaky mitral valve but it had to be put off until the little battler finished chemotherapy.

"We were devastated when we found out," mum Michelle, 39, said. "Our world fell apart but we had to stay strong.

"He endured three-and-a-half years of chemo on the most severe regime as his white blood cell count was extremely high."

Fortunately, Eliot, a Fulwell Junior School pupil, took to the treatment well.

Now 10, Eliot has been given the all clear, meaning he only has to return to hospital once a year.

"That was great news," Michelle said. "It's totally different to when we used to have to go once a day and then once a week.
"He seems fine now and that's just great to see."

In 2005, Eliot was able to have his heart surgery, which was successful but the family has been told he will have to undergo further surgery in the future to either replace or repair the valve.

Mrs Hunter said: "Some people say at least Eliot was a baby when he was diagnosed but he knew what was going on.

"He knew when he was getting needles put in him, he knew when he was having the treatment and he knew when he was in pain.

"He was so brave and he's our inspiration. He never once complained even though we knew he was in so much pain."

Now Mr and Mrs Hunter want to give something special back to their Black Cats mad son.

The couple have entered Eliot into into the Echo's Boxing Day Mascot Competition, sponsored by Thompson Building Centres.

The Echo teamed up with Thompson's, sponsors of Sunderland's Boxing Day clash, for the competition which will see the winner lead the Black Cats' on to the pitch for the match against Everton at the Stadium of Light.