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Manchester fundraiser Kirsty Howard dies aged 20 | Manchester fundraiser Kirsty Howard dies aged 20 |
(35 minutes later) | |
A girl born with a rare heart defect and given just weeks to live at the age of four has died, aged 20. | A girl born with a rare heart defect and given just weeks to live at the age of four has died, aged 20. |
Kirsty Howard attracted world attention when she joined David Beckham in launching the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. | Kirsty Howard attracted world attention when she joined David Beckham in launching the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002. |
Throughout her life, Kirsty, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, raised more than £7.5m for Manchester's Francis House Children's Hospice. | Throughout her life, Kirsty, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, raised more than £7.5m for Manchester's Francis House Children's Hospice. |
She died in hospital at 01:38 BST with her family, a spokesman said. | She died in hospital at 01:38 BST with her family, a spokesman said. |
Kirsty was the only British child - and one of only two worldwide - born with a back-to-front heart. | Kirsty was the only British child - and one of only two worldwide - born with a back-to-front heart. |
Her parents along with sisters Zoe and Kim were at Kirsty's bedside at Manchester Royal Infirmary, a spokesman from the Kirsty Club, a charity founded by the youngster, confirmed. | Her parents along with sisters Zoe and Kim were at Kirsty's bedside at Manchester Royal Infirmary, a spokesman from the Kirsty Club, a charity founded by the youngster, confirmed. |
Her fundraising efforts won the support of prime ministers, pop stars and Hollywood actors as she continued to defy medical odds. | Her fundraising efforts won the support of prime ministers, pop stars and Hollywood actors as she continued to defy medical odds. |
She also overcame her illness to study childcare at college before she died just a month after her 20th birthday. | She also overcame her illness to study childcare at college before she died just a month after her 20th birthday. |
David Ireland, chief executive of Francis House said Kirsty's fundraising "gave us a measure of security that allowed us to expand and develop our service". | |
He added: "Hundreds of children, young people and their families owe a tremendous debt to the young lady whose face made Francis House a household name." |