This is a proud and special day for the parents of Shropshire cancer sufferer Sophie Foxley, writes Rebecca Lawrence.

For the first birthday in three years, Sophie is not in hospital and is able to enjoy her day like any normal 10-year-old.

See our photo gallery below and read Sophie’s blog here

“I’m going to Disneyland Paris,” Sophie Foxley excitedly told me as she ran about and played on the swings in Shrewsbury’s Quarry park.

This trip abroad to mark her entry into double figures is the first birthday Sophie has not been in hospital since she was diagnosed just before turning eight years old.

She spent her ninth birthday eating cake on her hospital bed.

But now she is enjoying the rides at Euro Disney after a trip to Port Lymphne Zoo in Ashford, Kent, which featured on Sophie’s favourite television programme, Roar.

Part of the holiday is funded by the Christian Lewis Trust, which helps children with cancer, as well as money which was raised by the Liquid & Diva nightclub in Shrewsbury.

Sophie, who became known around the world for her blog, is also doing well at school – despite only attending for 44 per cent of the year.

Now 10 years old, she is looking forward to starting year six in September.

But as parents Phil and Jane Foxley, of Bicton Heath, pointed out, Sophie is still receiving maintenance treatment and is often ill after the chemotherapy. It should finish in December if Sophie is well.

Mr Foxley said: “The maintenance is due to be over in December but then she will still have to have tablets for anti-pneumonia.

“She is definitely a lot better than this time last year. She was in hospital a year ago. Sophie does have a lot more energy – it’s fits and starts though rather than continuous.

“This is her third birthday with it which is why it is so special because she has had two really rubbish birthdays. It is fantastic to see her running like this.”

Grandmother Maureen Daley, who moved with her husband Bob from Spalding in Lincoln to be near her family, said the old Sophie was starting to come back.

“This year, because the treatment has not been as intensive as it was, we see more of Sophie as she is.

“She has matured a lot this year as before she was very reluctant to leave her mother and wanting to know where she was but she has more confidence with other people now.

“She has got her hair back too but it’s coming back curly and she always used to have straight hair so she likes to straighten it.”

Mrs Foxley said she was thrilled with Sophie’s school reports. In her mock exams for her SATS, she managed to achieve a five in maths and a four in literacy and science, when four is the average.

“We went into school to see the head teacher because we were thinking of keeping her down but they said considering the amount she has missed, she is really doing remarkably well.

“Even though she is not better by any means, it’s very different to last year.”

Mr Foxley said Sophie’s blog still got around 30,000 hits a week and received a lot of support from people in Shropshire. She recently won the courage award in the Pride of Shropshire Awards.

She has also been nominated for the Pride of Britain Award and nominations close on August 1.

Mr Foxley said: “There’s now a change of attitude towards the blog. In the past people felt no news was bad news and it was because she was in hospital and could not write, but now people think it must be good news if we don’t put anything on there.

“We still get a lot of support. A parcel arrived from Massachusetts for her birthday.”

Mrs Foxley said Sophie also receives a lot help from her friends at Oxon Primary School.

She said: “Her friends are cautious and they take more care. It’s like they look after her but without her knowing it.”

But Mrs Foxley said Sophie still had to be very careful with infections.

She now has weak ankles due to the effects of chemotherapy drug Vinscristine and has to wear special boots to support them, although she can wear trainers for a couple of hours.

“She loves her football and we have started letting her do PE and she’s been doing athletics but they have to stop her doing too much at school.

“Sophie is also very prone to ear infections now and has to have pain killers because of it and she is very prone to mouth ulcers, which is purely down to the chemotherapy.”

Mrs Foxley said the family had been a bit worried because Sophie is very small for a 10-year-old.

“We took her to a bone specialist and he said her bones were aged six years and eight months so her bones are two-years younger and so there is a good chance she will grow more,” she said.

“They said she will probably carry on growing until she is 18 years old.”

Next term, Sophie is looking forward to choosing her secondary school for September 2009.

She said: “School is good. I enjoy it but it depends what the subject is. I probably like ICT best – that’s computers.

“Now I’m 10, I’m allowed to go down to the field with my friends so it’s more freedom.

“I was really excited about going to the zoo because it’s where a show called Roar, which I watched a lot when I was first ill, was filmed. I like the big cats best.

“I feel quite good compared to my birthday before. I wasn’t able to go out as much.

“I’m always playing football in the street with my friends.”

Mrs Foxley said: “We just hope that come December – maybe in time for Christmas – that will be the end but we just do not know.”

Read Sophie’s blog here

Watch Sophie in our Pride Of Shropshire video