Azaylia Cain: New foundation set up to fight childhood cancers
It's been named in memory of the eight month old who passed away in April.
Last updated 31st Aug 2021
A foundation named after an eight month old baby from the West Midlands whose battle with cancer went viral is launching today.
Azaylia Cain was being treated at Birmingham Children's Hospital before she passed away in April this year.
Her dad, ex reality star & Coventry City footballer Ashley Cain has helped set up the Azaylia Cain foundation aiming to bring an end to childhood cancer.
Azaylia was born in August 2020 but when she was just a few months old, was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) - a rare form of childhood cancer.
Her parents, Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee, then launched a fundraiser in March to raise money for specialist treatment in Singapore.
More than £1.6 million was raised for treatment & the Antony Nolan charity said 56,000 people signed up to their stem cell register.
Her condition deteriorated thought and she passed away on the 24th April.
Just days before she died, landmarks across the world lit up in orange to mark World AML Day. It included the London Eye, Blackpool Tower and the Niagara Falls.
On their website, the Azaylia Foundation says it 'aims to support families that are fundraising for treatments that may not be readily available on the NHS and provide children with memorable experiences as they fight cancer'.
Money donated will also focus on educating parents and raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer and coping with diagnoses.
Starting tomorrow (Wwednesday), in conjunction with Children’s Cancer Awareness month, Ashley will begin his first fundraiser for the foundation - a 1,000 mile bike ride from Lands End to John O’Groats.
If you would like the opportunity to talk freely, for as long as required, with a sympathetic and understanding listener you can call the Lullaby Trust bereavement support helpline on 0808 802 6868 or email support@lullabytrust.org.uk.