A TEENAGER who has battled cancer within the last year and yet managed to gain top A Level results has won flights to New York for her mum.

Lauren Shute, from High Wycombe, was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer when she was 17.

For eight and a half months she received chemotherapy and is now in remission.

Amazingly, this August she got her A Level results which she continued during her illness and gained two A* grades and two A grades.

Lauren entered the Avios Big Reward campaign after she nominated her mum, Julie, for helping her through her treatment.

They are one of the star winners of the travel rewards company competition and won a pair of BA flights to New York.

Lauren, who has just turned 18, said: "Whenever I felt sick she was there for me. She shaved my head for me when my hair started to fall out.

"She helped me through my A Levels so I could finish them with my friends. She made sure that happened."

Lauren had support from her previous school, Pipers Corner School in Great Kingshill. She went to Sir William Borlase's Grammar School in Marlow for sixth form.

She said: "I am going to take a gap year and gain some work experience and do the things I want to do, then apply to uni next year."

They are flying to New York for five nights and will return on Christmas Eve.

Their last family holiday before Lauren was diagnosed was to New York, so it holds very special memories.

Sister Georgia, 14, and dad Jeremy have other plans while they are away and are excited for the duo.

Mum Julie said it was huge shock to find out they had won. She said: "I didn't know until there was a knock at the door and a whole film crew was there.

"I thought it was a soap advert!"

And she said she didn't needed to be thanked by her daughter as that is what mums do.

Entrants had to nominate the inspirational people in their lives by filming a video or writing about why they deserved to win. More than 2,500 entries were received for the campaign and the winners’ reactions were also captured in short film by Avios which aired on Channel 4 between prime time shows on July 25 and can be viewed at www.theaviosbigreward.com.