A CHARITY named after an 11-year-old Southampton girl who died of cancer has raised more than £1m in just five years.

Abby’s Heroes works with cancer patients being treated on the Piam Brown and Teenagers and Young Adults (TYA) wards at University Hospital Southampton.

The charity offers financial and practical help as well as making it possible to create precious memories for the patients and their families.

Sally and David Randall launched Abby’s Heroes in 2016, six months after losing their daughter.

Sally said: "I am so incredibly proud of how Abby’s Heroes has grown over the past few years.

"Abby's Heroes began in memory of our daughter but now it’s about every single child and young adult who is diagnosed with cancer across the south coast.

"Raising a million pounds was an almost inconceivable target when we began. But thanks to all the fundraisers within our family, our local community, friends and businesses we have reached this staggering total."

Abby was looking forward to celebrating her ninth birthday when she was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer in 2013.

She underwent extensive treatment, including 23 rounds of chemotherapy, and was declared to be in remission the following May. But the cancer returned and she died on May 29 2016 after what her family describe as a "truly awe-inspiring fight".

Abby was a patient on the Piam Brown Ward.

Writing on the Abby's Heroes website her parents say: "She was the bravest child and withstood the most aggressive attempt to beat her disease.

"She got the nickname of 'Abby the Ninja' from a group of teenagers on the ward because she was so fearless and never moaned about the treatment.

"Abby loved to dance and her teacher described her as 'a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day'.

"Seeing the tributes flooding in after her passing and the hundreds of people at her funeral demonstrated perfectly how many people loved her and what a mark she made on the world during her short life.

"Abby has left a massive hole in our hearts and everyday we struggle with the loss of her."

Sally and her team are preparing for a new round of fundraising events, including the ABP Southampton Marathon, 10K and Half Marathon on September 5.

They are determined to push the £1m donation figure even higher in the coming months so they can continue to support young people and their families.