The parents of a child whose life was cut short of leukaemia will keep her memory alive by hosting a fundraising day in Royston.

Ben and Nicola Samuels, who lost their one-year-old daughter Mia to the disease five years ago, want to raise vital funds for research into blood cancers in her memory.

Nicola said: “Nothing could have prepared us for the shock of Mia’s diagnosis and in that moment our world came crashing down.

“We were completely and utterly devastated.

“Mia’s life had barely begun, so how was it even possible that something so cruel could happen to a helpless little baby?”

Mia was born in 2009, and at two months old she experienced feeding problems which got progressively worse.

Two months later in October 2009, her parents were given the devastating diagnosis that their daughter was suffering from an aggressive form of blood cancer called acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

After an immediate course of steroids and chemotherapy at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, Ben and Nicolas were told by doctors that the cancer was in remission. Mia then began three blocks of very intensive chemotherapy which continued unitl April 2010.

All that was then needed to complete Mia’s treatment and her chance of long-term survival was a bone marrow transplant, which was scheduled to take place at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London the following month.

But Mia was suddenly struck down by three infections and her cancer was found to have returned, and doctors could do no more for her.

Mia passed away in her parents’ arms just days after celebrating her first birthday.

This year will be the second time the couple have held the event for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

The fun day will take place at Royston Heath Sports Centre on Sunday, August 16, from 11am until 5pm.

The day will feature a host of activities including dance performances, children’s entertainers and inflatables.

To find out more about how you can get involved, see www.justgiving.com/TeamMiaFamilyFunDay2015.