Manchester fundraiser Kirsty Howard dies
Kirsty Howard - the fundraiser born with a back to front heart - has died, aged 20.
Kirsty Howard was the face of Francis House - the Manchester hospice where received care for her extrememly rare heart condition.
Kirsty was born with her heart back to front, causing some of her other organs to be misplaced.
The youngster is the only person in the UK and only the second in the worls to be diagnosed with the condition.
When she was four she was given just six weeks to live.
From a young age Kirsty's helped raise cash to secure the future of the hospice - where she's been traeted.
In 2001 she was the mascot for the World Cup, she came on to the pitch with David Beckham, he and wife Victoria have donated a lot of money to Francis House and remained friends with the youngster - and in 2002 Kirsty handed the jubilee baton to the Queen as part of the Commonwealth games opening in Manchester - with Becks at her side.
She had the support of numerous celebrities and famous faces to help in her fundraising quest - including Coronation Street stars and Mohammed al Fayed.
In 2006, she saw Francis House reach its fundraising target of ÂŁ5million. Speaking at the time, fundraising co-ordinator, Susie Mathis said: "The only thing I ever wanted at the beginning of this campaign was to see her there at the end, and to be counted and have the five million as a legacy for her and her courage".
In the end, she raised more than ÂŁ7.5 million for Francis
House.
During her short life she also overcame her illness to study childcare at college and was also a proud Aunty before she died just a month after her 20th birthday.
Kirsty died in hospital at 1.38am today surrounded by her family, according to a spokesman.
Her parents along with sisters Zoe and Kim were at the bedside at Manchester Royal Infirmary, a spokesman from the Kirsty Club, a charity founded by the youngster, confirmed.