THE family of a young girl who died from cancer chose what would have been her fifth birthday to launch a fundraising appeal.
For almost two years, brave Katie-Leigh Tones amazed doctors with her fight against neuroblastma, the most common form of childhood cancer.
When the four-year-old, from Crook, died two weeks before Christmas last year, her family vowed to start a cash crusade to support the medical staff who cared for her and to help other sick children.
Katie's grandmother, Brenda Coote, organised a charity night in Willington Workmen's Club, raising £1,360 to get the fund under way.
The money is going to the team of specialist Macmillan nurses based at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary who cared for Katie in hospital and at home.
Brenda said: "They couldn't do enough for her and for us. They were brilliant. Nothing was ever too much trouble for them."
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