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Brave Anna, 9, to lead out Wales Brave Anna, 9, leads out Wales XV
(about 7 hours later)
A nine-year-old girl who beat a rare form of cancer has been chosen as the Wales rugby team's mascot for the opening Six Nations game with Ireland. A nine-year-old girl who beat a rare form of cancer was the Wales rugby team's mascot for the opening Six Nations game with Ireland.
Anna Culshaw got the all-clear from doctors just before Christmas, 18 months after a bone marrow transplant.Anna Culshaw got the all-clear from doctors just before Christmas, 18 months after a bone marrow transplant.
She will walk out with Wales captain Steven Jones before more than 70,000 fans at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. She walked out with Wales captain Stephen Jones before more than 70,000 fans at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.
Her father Eddie said the whole family, from Carrog in Denbighshire, would be at the game to cheer Anna. Her father Eddie said the whole family, from Carrog in Denbighshire, were at the game to cheer Anna.
He said: "She's very excited, although I don't think she fully grasps the enormity of it. Before the game he said: "She's very excited, although I don't think she fully grasps the enormity of it.
We don't play the Lotto anymore because we always said we'd won it when the donor came forward Eddie Culshaw, Anna's fatherWe don't play the Lotto anymore because we always said we'd won it when the donor came forward Eddie Culshaw, Anna's father
"I just hope it's not too much for her and she freezes.
"I've explained to her that most houses in Wales will probably have their televisions on, watching the rugby that day."I've explained to her that most houses in Wales will probably have their televisions on, watching the rugby that day.
"It's going to be a very emotional day, we're very proud of her.""It's going to be a very emotional day, we're very proud of her."
The transplant operation took place in Liverpool Anna is able to go outside when the weather is fine
Anna was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a rare form of cancer which prevented her bone marrow making enough red blood cells.Anna was diagnosed with myelodysplasia, a rare form of cancer which prevented her bone marrow making enough red blood cells.
It affects only a handful people in the UK.It affects only a handful people in the UK.
She underwent a bone marrow transplant after a donor was found through the Anthony Nolan Trust, and the operation seems to have been successful.She underwent a bone marrow transplant after a donor was found through the Anthony Nolan Trust, and the operation seems to have been successful.
Mr Culshaw said: "It's thanks to the Anthony Nolan Trust that we managed to find a donor.Mr Culshaw said: "It's thanks to the Anthony Nolan Trust that we managed to find a donor.
"All we know is that the donor was a 39-year-old male. We have no idea who he is - maybe he'll be watching the rugby."All we know is that the donor was a 39-year-old male. We have no idea who he is - maybe he'll be watching the rugby.
"Anna's now doing really well, and was given the all-clear just before Christmas. She's still more susceptible to infections than other youngsters, and she'll need regular check-ups long-term."Anna's now doing really well, and was given the all-clear just before Christmas. She's still more susceptible to infections than other youngsters, and she'll need regular check-ups long-term.
"But as far as we're concerned it's all positive. We don't play the Lotto anymore because we always said we'd won it when the donor came forward.""But as far as we're concerned it's all positive. We don't play the Lotto anymore because we always said we'd won it when the donor came forward."