"What an inspiration!"

Tuesday 11 February 2020

A ten-year-old girl, whose best friend passed away four years ago, has decided to donate her Christmas money to a local charity in her memory.

Katie Lloyd has given £100 towards the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation's flat in Southampton - called 'Aggie's Burrow'.

"The PPBF is very close to our hearts because of 'Aggie's Burrow'," Katie's mother, Cathy Lloyd explained. "Katie had been best friends with Aggie Nicolle, along with their friend Holly, since they were six months old - we called them the 'three amigos'.

Pictured: Aggie's Burrow (image from ppbf.org.gg).

"Sadly, Aggie passed away from cancer exactly four years ago.

"We visited the PPBF flat when Aggie was staying there and saw how much of a difference it made to her family. Aggie was such an inspiration to our family, always smiling despite the pain she must have been in."

Katie was inspired to donate by her mum, who recently raised more than £5,000 for the charity.

The pair were discussing the challenge over the festive season when Katie, completely unprompted, said she would like to donate half of her £200 Christmas money to the foundation.

Pictured: Aggie's Burrow (image from ppbf.org.gg).

"We named the PPBF flat 'Aggie's Burrow' in memory of the beautiful and courageous, Aggie Nicolle," said Co-Founder of the charity, Jo Priaulx. "We're honoured that Aggie's name lives on within our charity."

The flat offers a 'home from home' for the families of premature babies and seriously ill children, free of charge. Both 'Aggie's Burrow' and 'Isaac's Pad' are situated very close to Southampton Hospital.

The foundation spends about £30,000 a year running the properties and is continuously fundraising to cover the costs.

"We would like to say a massive thank you to Katie and Cathy for their kindness and generosity," said Sammy Meerveld from the PPBF. "What an inspiration!"

Pictured top: Katie and Cathy Lloyd with Jo Priaulx and Sammy Meerveld.