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Thursday, October 2, 2014

Smiling girl with leukaemia who was pictured laughing on Diana's knee in iconic image loses battle with disease aged just 21


  • .Hollie Robinson Marsh was pictured during Diana's final official engagement
  • .Photo of pair published worldwide and used for £5 commemorative coin
  • .Girl beat leukaemia and was inspired to help children with special needs 
  • .On her 21st birthday she was diagnosed with cancer again and later died
  • .Hundreds turn out for funeral of 'amazing person' who bravely fought illness
She was the young cancer sufferer pictured sitting on the knee of Diana, Princess of Wales, at the royal's final official engagement before her tragic death.
Hollie Robinson Marsh beat cancer as a child but has now sadly passed away after the leukaemia returned, 17 years after the photo was taken.
The girl was just four when she met the Princess at north London's Northwick Park Hospital children's ward in July 1997.
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Hollie Robinson Marsh was four-years-old when she met Diana, Princess of Wales, during the princess's visit to Northwick Park Hospital
Hollie Robinson Marsh was four-years-old when she met Diana, Princess of Wales, during the princess's visit to Northwick Park Hospital
Recalling the day, her mother Claire Robinson from Ruislip, London, told The Times: 'Diana picked Hollie up and put her on her lap. Hollie was a lot heavier than she expected and she said "my God, you weigh a ton". That is why Hollie is laughing in the picture.'
That image was published around the world and was eventually used as an official photo accompanying a £5 coin marking Diana's death.
Ms Robinson said: 'Hollie remembered meeting the princess but not the details of the day. She didn't really mention it to people because she did not want to be different to everyone else.'
Hollie recovered from her illness and, inspired to help others by the Princess, went on to study childcare at school.
Her last official engagement in Britain was on 21 July, when she visited Northwick Park Hospital, London (children's accident and emergency unit)
Her last official engagement in Britain was on 21 July, when she visited Northwick Park Hospital, London (children's accident and emergency unit)
Two years on, Hollie showed off the souvenir coins of her meeting with Diana, Princess of Wales, which inspired her in later life
Two years on, Hollie showed off the souvenir coins of her meeting with Diana, Princess of Wales, which inspired her in later life
Hollie began working for a children's organisation at 16 and was there until she died, aged 21
Hollie began working for a children's organisation at 16 and was there until she died, aged 21
By the age of 16 she had a part-time job with Kids Can Achieve, a Harrow-based organisation offering support to youngsters with special needs and their families.
And she was still working there when, on her 21st birthday, she had the shocking news that her cancer had returned.
Ms Robinson said: 'The doctors said it was a one-in-a-million chance. Hollie was just an amazing person. She never said "why me?", she never cried, she just went with it.' 
Simon Jarrett, the chair of Kids Can Achieve, says her passing is huge loss to both the staff she worked with and the children they care for.
He told MailOnline: 'We are terribly shocked and saddened by her death.
'She'd worked with us from the early days of our organisation. She is somebody who had gone through great trials herself and the gave up a career to work with children with very high levels of need.
'She was a great worker and friend and we'll all miss her greatly. It's a really shocking loss we've suffered.'
Diana, Princess of Wales, also met a youngster called Camila Fiocco during her visit  to Northwick Park Hospital
Diana, Princess of Wales, also met a youngster called Camila Fiocco during her visit to Northwick Park Hospital
Despite the fact that her 18-year-old brother Jake was ready to be a bone marrow donor so his sister could undergo a transplant, Hollie became seriously ill from the chemotherapy and radiotherapy she received, eventually leading to multi-organ failure. 
And when details of her funeral were put on Facebook, hundreds of friends got in touch with family.
In the end, more than 300 people came to the service, many lining the road to Breakspear Crematorium.
During her visit to the hospital, her last official engagement, Princess Diana, also met a girl called Camila.
The four-year-old, who lost her hair during chemotherapy, was one of the patients who saw the Princess unveil a foundation stone for the children's casualty centre.
The Princess spotted the child in a bright floral dress and cuddled her as she spoke to her Brazilian-born mother, Anna Fiocco. 

LEUKAEMIA: THE MOST COMMON FORM OF BLOOD CANCER IN CHILDREN

Leukaemia is the most common form of blood cancer in children. Leukaemia is a blood cancer that affects the white blood cells, a really important part of our immune system that fights infection.
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALA) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are forms of cancer which affect blood-producing cells in the bone marrow.
When a child has leukaemia, control of blood cell production breaks down. The bone marrow - the soft tissue in the middle of our bones where all our blood cells are made - makes lots of abnormal white blood, or leukaemia cells.
These never mature into proper white blood cells, vital to a healthy immune system, and so children with leukaemia are at more risk of infection.
Now nine in ten children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) - a remarkable turnaround for a previously untreatable disease.
The cure rates for children with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are now around 65 per cent.
The photo of Hollie meeting Princess Diana was eventually used inside a presentation package featuring a £5 coin to mark the princess's death
The photo of Hollie meeting Princess Diana was eventually used inside a presentation package featuring a £5 coin to mark the princess's death

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