THE father of a five-year old girl battling a brain tumour has written an emotional collection of songs inspired by his brave daughter.

Ruby Stinson's fight against cancer captured the nation's hearts after the M.E.N. told how she was diagnosed when her parents, Rex and Joanne, took her to the doctor with a limp.

Now Rex, 41, from Cardigan Drive, Bury, has recorded an album he says was inspired by both Ruby's continuing determination and the family's anguish.

Rex, who gave up work as a mobile hairdresser to care for Ruby, said: "It was quite emotional to write and there have been a few tears. But we are hoping to raise a lot of money for charity.

Inspired

"This is my first solo project and obviously most of the songs were inspired by what we have all been through."

Proceeds from the album, which is for sale at Vibes Records in Bury, will go to the Derian House Children's Hospice, near Chorley, Lancashire, where Ruby has been cared for.

Ruby was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour the size of a golf ball in February 2007, to the horror of Rex and Joanne, a nurse at Rochdale Infirmary. They were told that without treatment, Ruby had only between three and six months to live.

The story of Ruby's plight led to the couple receiving cash donations and messages of hope from strangers across the country.

Former Manchester United star Phil Neville and his wife Julie even stepped in to pay for the family to go to Disneyland, Paris.

Ruby is currently undergoing seven-day chemotherapy stints at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in Pendlebury.

Responding

Rex said: "She is doing really well now. She is having chemotherapy every third week and that involves a week stay in hospital. She is a lot better and is responding very well. We are all really pleased.

"We are just going to keep going with it as long as we can. There will come a time when she can't tolerate it anymore but we cannot plan too far ahead.

"But for now she is really happy and has even returned to school. It is a bit of normality for her."

Rex played guitar in the band Strawberry Story, who were once featured by legendary Radio One DJ John Peel. He has posted tracks from the album on his website - www.myspace.com/rexstinson.

He said: "I have been writing for years but this album has gone down really well. Some tracks were written when we were at Derian House, which is where the proceeds are going. Ruby loves it.

"She knows a lot of the words but not really what they all mean. She dances around as well."

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