SIX-YEAR-OLD Ellie Libby, who battled against a rare genetic illness throughout her life, has died at her home in Looe, surrounded by her family.

The brave little girl was the inspiration for the idea of her parents, Nigel and Julie Libby, to raise money to build a holiday retreat for other parents with sick children.

In 2007, the charity Ellie's Haven was launched, and to date £390,000 has been raised.

In a statement announcing his daughter's death, Nigel said: 'Ellie's memory will be preserved forever by Ellie's Haven, and the special place for special children that it will create.

'Ellie's struggle to survive has helped highlight the need for Ellie's Haven as a place offering relief to families such as hers.' Julie paid a tribute herself saying that they had been inundated with hundreds of cards, poems, verses and messages of condolences. 'For a little girl who couldn't talk, she still managed to touch everyone's hearts and we are thankful for the amazing support we have received,' she said.

'Ellie always fought so hard, and if hugs and kisses could make someone better she would be up and running around. She received so much love.'

Julie, who is the owner of Julie's Florist in Looe, said she would be making Ellie's floral tribute for her coffin herself. 'She was my girl and I will be making her a simple spray of pink roses,' she said.

It was a phone call from the couple's 19-year-old daughter Sophie which brought home to Julie that their lives without Ellie, who needed round-the-clock care, would now change. 'My in-laws are staying just down the road,' said Julie. 'Sophie was there and she rang me and told me to pop down for a coffee and switch off for a while. It suddenly struck me there was no Ellie to think about. Before I couldn't have done that and it made me want to carry on with Ellie's Haven even more, so parents could have that break away and switch off.'

The seed for Ellie's Haven was first planted when she was about seven months old. Derriford Hospital didn't have a paediatric endoscope to help medical experts investigate her condition so the Libbys set about raising funds to get one. The response was so overwhelming that Nigel and Julie started thinking about creating a holiday retreat for families with children suffering from life-limiting illnesses. And so their charity, Ellie's Haven, was born.

The charity has attracted attention from stars including Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan who have a home near Looe, and Australian actor Jason Donovan. The Madeleys are the patrons of Ellie's Haven.

Inspired

The charity issued an announcement after Ellie died which said: 'It is with great sadness that we have to inform you that Ellie, the little girl that inspired the creation of the charity Ellie's Haven, has passed away. Ellie gave up her long battle to stay alive at 9.28am on Thursday, January 5, 2012. She would have been seven years old on January 25.'

Her funeral takes place at Riverside United Church, West Looe, on Wednesday, January 18, at 3pm, followed by cremation at Glynn Valley, Bodmin, at 4.30pm. All are welcome. There will be a retiring collection for Ellie's Haven.