Final farewell for tragic Sadie after cancer fight

Yesterday hundreds of mourners attended a funeral to say farewell to two-year-old Sadie Rose Clifford, who lost her fight against the disease last week only months after flying to America for pioneering treatment.

Up to 550 grieving relatives and friends packed into St John’s Church in Knaresborough to pay their last respects to Sadie.

During the service, songs including Take That’s Rule The World and Kirsty MacColl’s Days were played.

In her address, the Rev Elizabeth Sewell, team rector of Knaresborough, said: “In her short life, Sadie Rose was the focus of an incredible community effort. Her zest for life, her joy in every day things, those images of her laughing and dancing – those and much more are the memories to treasure.

“They – together with our admiration of her family’s determination to fight for every chance for Sadie Rose – are her legacy to us.

“As a town and as a wider community of care, they drew us together and showed just how much can be done when we share a common purpose. Let’s not lose that but use it to continue to change the world around us.”

Sadie, from Knaresborough in North Yorkshire, died on Monday last week as her mother, Katie, was reading her a children’s story.

Her death came only 10 days after her family had been told nothing more could be done in her battle against the aggressive childhood cancer, neuroblastoma.

Sadie, who was diagnosed in October 2010, flew to America in January for treatment, but returned to the UK after suffering a relapse.

More than £400,000 was collected for her treatment by fund-raisers, including footballer Peter Crouch and his wife, Abbey Clancy.

The Stoke City striker and his wife personally donated £5,000 and also pledged to help with fund-raising after Mrs Clifford got in touch with Ms Clancy on Twitter.

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