Ellie lived with her Mum, Elaine, and Dad, Nick, at Colkirk, a small village near Fakenham. Since shortly after birth Ellie was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. This meant she had to undertake a twice daily physiotherapy regime to release the mucus that coated the lining of her lungs. She also had to have lots of stays in hospital, both at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and more recently at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London – Ellie’s “hotel” as she used to call it! Ellie had to take a considerable number of drugs to ensure her lungs functioned as best they could and her body absorbed nutrition from the food she ate. She had considerable trouble eating and had to be fed through a tube.

Sadly Ellie lost her battle with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of 16 on 17 November 2013. During her short life Ellie lived life to the full and did not let her condition stop her ambitions nor her intentions of making sure she made the most of her life – as much as she could.

In Ellie’s memory Nick and Elaine have decided to set up the charity “Ellie’s Love”. The purpose of this charity is to support local people with Cystic Fibrosis and their families. All monies raised will go to help local people with Cystic Fibrosis whilst at home or during stays in hospitals or at the East Anglian Children’s Hospices (EACH).

When Ellie was alive the Norfolk Branch of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust were an enormous help to Ellie, Nick and Elaine, such as helping with providing much needed funds to help her buy a physio vest which improved her lung function. They were always on hand for much needed help, advice and guidance. In the short time since Ellie’s sad passing the Norfolk Branch have also provided much needed support to both Nick and Elaine.

Ellie was also helped enormously by the Quidenham Children’s Hospice, part of EACH. The support provided by the staff during her life and in particularly during her final days and hours helped Ellie to pass away peacefully at home, as she so dearly wished, with Nick and Elaine beside her. They were also of tremendous support to Nick and Elaine during this sad time, and also to Ellie’s friends and family members.

Nick and Elaine are now using their time to raise funds for “Ellie’s Love” so that the memory of Ellie can forever live on by providing vital funds to local people with Cystic Fibrosis and their families when they need it most – just as Ellie, Nick and Elaine were helped when they needed it most and also to help ensure they can live life to the full – just as Ellie did.