A CHARITY named after an 11-year-old Southampton girl who died of cancer has been awarded a £10,000 grant.

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 for patients and their families to create precious memories.

Now Abby's Heroes has been given vital funding by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group under its annual Movement for Good awards.

Ecclesiastical's chief executive, Mark Hews, said: "We are actively championing innovation, giving charities the backing they need to propel their plans forward and turn creative ideas into practical solutions.

"We know that £10,000 can make a huge difference to the incredible work that charities do."

Sally Randall, founder and chief executive Abby’s Heroes, added: "We help a diverse range of families who have one thing in common – the physical, psychological, economic and social consequences of childhood cancer.

"This grant will help us develop much-needed psychological support to children through play therapy."

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

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, but she died in 2016 after what her family describe as a "truly awe-inspiring fight".

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.

"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."