A CELEBRATION of the life of brave girl Sophie Ryan-Palmer of Feltham was held after her funeral where horses pulled a pink coffin in a Cinderella-style carriage.

More than 350 of the 12-year-old's closest friends and family packed into St Richard's Church in Hanworth for the service on Thursday July 25 where the family read moving tributes to the youngster who lost her 10 year battle with Leukaemia.

Pink and white flowers arranged to spell out her motto Happy Happy Happy, Fun, Fun, Fun, Always Smile and her favourite songs were played at the ceremony to stamp her personality on the day.

Mother Debbie Ryan, of Rochester Avenue, Feltham, said: "It was an absolutely fantastic day and I am sure Sophie would have been proud of it and loved every minute of it.

"We were privileged to have a special daughter like Sophie and we hope that she has made her mark in this world even it being so short and her memory will carry on for years to come. She will always be my A-Z."

The celebration of life afterwards saw 250 balloons being released before guests tucked into a barbecue and enjoyed ice cream from an ice-cream van.

More than £2,300 was raised in donations on the day which will go towards a memorial bench and Shooting Star CHASE Children's Hospice.

Story 2: Tributes

TRIBUTES poured in from family and friends for the brave schoolgirl who lost her long battle with Leukaemia.

Sophie Ryan-Palmer, 12, of Rochester Avenue, Feltham, had endured a 10-year fight against cancer since being diagnosed at the age of two, but on Monday July 15 she was on a life-support machine and parents Debbie Ryan and Barry Palmer were with her when she passed away on the morning of Wednesday July 17.

Sophie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) in 2003, and had seen her cancer come back at least three times over the years, before she opted to try a new clinical trial in March which required her to have a second bone marrow transplant but ultimately the treatment had been unsuccessful.

A statement from Debbie to describe her daughter said: "Amazing, beautiful, courageous, dynamic, energetic, funny, gorgeous, happy, inspirational, jovial, kind, loving, magnificent, nutty, outstandingly pretty, quirky, radiant, shining star, tremendously unbelievable, very witty, extra special, youthful and zany princess and I love you very very much."

Sophie, a pupil at the Bishop Wand CofE school in Sunbury, helped raise more than £18,000 for four charities; Children with Cancer, Anthony Nolan Trust, Rays of Sunshine and the Charley Paige Trust, depsite trips in and out of Great Ormond Street Hospital.

She began fundraising at the age of six starting with the 5k Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK at Kempton Park, followed by raffles, having her hair shaved off and parties with school friends. She met her idol Peter Andre at a concert at Kempton Park Racecourse.

In a newsletter from Bishop Wand School, headteacher Toby Miller said: "Our thoughts, love and prayers go to her family and friends who will miss her dearly, but are determined to live by her motto 'happy, happy, happy, fun, fun, fun, always smiling'."

Jackie Franklin, founder/trustee of Charley Paige Trust added: "Sophie has always been such an inspiration to us since we first met her in 2010.

"Sophie was amazingly beautiful, inside and out. Her family must be so proud of her as we are. We are so lucky to have known such a special person."