A BRAVE girl has overcome a life-threatening illness to raise money for the people who saved her life.

Caitlin Murphy, of Birch Crescent, South Ockendon, almost never made her ninth birthday after a viral infection spiralled out of control affecting her internal organs.

She was sent to Great Ormond Street Hospital for a month, even meeting Coldplay front man Chris Martin.

Caitlin said: “He was so nice, although I would have loved to meet One Direction.”

Caitlin ran the Race for the Kids 5km at Battersea on June 9, and since coming out of hospital has raised around £1,000 for it.