A COUPLE who lost their daughter to leukaemia have raised nearly £17,000 in just three months for a fund they set up in her name.

Mike and Claire Wren lost their three and a half year old "pink princess" Charlotte on June 14 this year after a long battle with a rare strain of the condition known as juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia.

They set up a The Charlotte Wren Forget Me Not Fund in July in order to help other families whose children are battling the terminal illness and also help with research to find a cure.

Since then the couple, along with family and friends, have taken part in the Great North Walk, Middlesbrough 10km run and held a Pink Princess Party to raise funds.

Businesses and even complete strangers have been touched by their plight and contributed.

So far they have raised 16,879 and money is still pouring in.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia currently affects just four children in the UK.

Mr Wren said: "The love and warmth of our brave little Charlotte is the inspiration behind the fund. We haven't set a target but we have a five year plan and we will see where it goes from there.

"It is about giving back to other people who need help at the moment."

The couple, of St Cuthbert's Avenue, Marton, Middlesbrough, want to donate money to help with researching a cure and also sponsor a room at Crawford House, at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle.

Crawford House is a place for parents to stay while their child is having treatment in hospital.

Mr Wren said: "While Charlotte was ill we had to move to Newcastle. It was something we were obviously happy to do but the difficult time was made so much easier by being able to stay there.

"We would have been lost without it. We would like to sponsor a room there in Charlotte's name for a year."

He added: "We are trying to make a difference to other families. Charlotte was our very special little girl and hopefully others will not have to suffer as much as we did.

"We are doing this for her and her memory."

To make a donation e-mail m.c.wren@talktalk.co.uk