The parents of a baby who lost her battle to a rare illness on Christmas Eve have said love and support from the people of Liskeard helped their little girl to live her short life to the full.

Elodie Cullingford was just six and a half months old when she died on December 24.

At two months old, Elodie was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 1, a neuromuscular disease affecting her movement and eventually her feeding and breathing.

Her parents Axie and Mike began a Facebook page, Elodie’s Story, to keep friends updated on her progress, and soon many offers of support came in. Fund-raising events held in Liskeard helped to provide equipment and toys specially adapted for Elodie, and enabled the family to enjoy time together away from the daily routine

Elodie’s funeral will be held tomorrow, Thursday, January 5, at 12.30pm at Liskeard Wesley Church, followed by a wake at the Eliot House Hotel.

‘We want her funeral to be a celebration of her short but amazing life. We would like to have all colours of the rainbow as a theme, so anyone that would like to attend, please wear some colour,’ said Axie.

‘Thank you to everyone for their continued support. So many family and friends have been there to help us when we needed anything.’

Guests are asked to give donations in lieu of flowers to Children’s Hospice South West Little Harbour.