IT was just days before Christmas that a brave little Eastleigh girl lost her fight against cancer.

That was three years ago but Sophie Barringer, who was six and a pupil at Norwood Primary School, will never be forgotten.

Her courage and generous spirit could light up a forest of Christmas trees.

In September 2003 she was diagnosed with Wilm's Disease and had to have major surgery to remove cancerous growths from her heart, liver and right kidney.

Before she died she helped to launch Norwood Primary School's Giving Tree Appeal to spread Yuletide joy to scores of children being treated for cancer in local hospitals.

Every year since, pupils from Norwood and The Crescent Primary Schools have put toys under a Christmas Tree.

The gifts are then taken on a special sleigh ride to the Piam Brown Ward at Southampton General Hospital and the Northbrook Ward at Winchester's Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

Sophie's parents, Lin and Mike Barringer joined pupils and friends of Norwood School at what has become the traditional Giving Tree assembly. Nearly 300 gifts were loaded into a fleet of cars ready for the Santa rounds of the two hospitals.

Norwood's deputy head Marcus Roe said: "Our children and families are very happy to help others. They understand how their small gifts will make a difference to those children in hospital over Christmas."

Sophie left a lasting impression on all those she met including England and former Saints player James Beattie. There was a strong bond between the soccer superstar and Sophie. On September 19. 2004 Sophie stirred real emotion in the crowd at St Mary's Stadium when she proudly wore her Saints kit and was mascot for the day.

When the soccer star got married more than a year ago he and his bride requested no wedding gifts. Instead they wanted donations to be made to The Sophie Barringer Trust.

So far the trust has raised more than £100,000 and recently opened Sophie's Place, a dedicated children's treatment and assessment ward at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

This ward will treat almost 300 children per month and has fulfilled the 15-year dream of Keith Foote, one of the consultant paediatricians on the Northbrook Ward. It was Dr Foote who originally diagnosed Sophie's cancer.

The trust has also sent four terminally-ill children on a holiday of a lifetime where they can spend quality time with their families, away from the stresses and strains of hospital life.