A HOLIDAY home for families affected by childhood cancer has been created in memory of a special girl who loved the Isle of Wight.

Sophie Powell, of Eltham, London, died last January, aged just 11, after fighting kidney cancer. She left her twin sister Emma, now 13, and parents Karen and Steve.

The family had promised Sophie they would make her dream come true, which was to buy a holiday home on the Island for other families going through the same trauma.

They set up a fundraising page and within 18 months raised £120,000.

They spent £85,000 on a luxury three-bedroom lodge at Whitecliff Bay, which will be managed by the charity CCT Tiger Ward. The other monies will go to registered childhood cancer charities.

The family officially opened the lodge at the weekend, which was an emotional occasion but full of happiness at having made Sophie's dream come true.

Karen said: "Our journey started in January 2015 when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, then two months later, Sophie was too. They say it was not connected as children's and adult cancers are different."

Sophie had surgery but unfortunately her tumour ruptured and she suffered complications afterwards. She went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy before relapsing and having to go through it all again.

Karen said: "She said she would love to set up a holiday home on the Isle of Wight that kids with cancer could use, and I promised her we would. It was her dream, as she loved coming to the Island.

"We are proud to have made her wish a reality. She would have loved it but that she is not here to see it is devastating.

"We have called the lodge Sophie's Wish. We were truly blessed to have had Sophie in our lives."

To donate, go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/someonespecial/sophiepowell