Sophie's Legacy founder has been recognised with a Points of Light Award

Charlotte, THE founder of Sophie’s Legacy, has been acknowledged for her incredible work throughout the city for children having to go into hospital.

The 42-year-old has achieved phenomenal things for the community after her daughter, Sophie, died of a rare type of cancer.

Before Sophie passed away, she made her mum promise that she would fight to give children in hospital a good experience, and Charlotte has been on a mission ever since to follow through with her promise.

Since Sophie’s death in September 2021, Charlotte established Sophie’s Legacy which offers children and parents food whilst in hospital, emergency bags, pizza Saturdays as well as working closely with play specialists and doctors to improve the care that children receive.

Charlotte has been recognised with a Points of Light Award, which highlights outstanding individuals who are aiming to make a change in the community.

Charlotte said: ‘I am so shocked to receive the Points of Light award. I’m just a mum who’s fighting to create change and carry out my daughter Sophie’s wishes. I was therefore so surprised to receive an award to recognise the work that I’ve been doing.’

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Every week day, the Prime Minister recognises an inspirational volunteer in the community, and since it was established in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush hundreds of people have been awarded with this honour.

The awards launched at 10 Downuing Street in 2014, and there has been an array of people that have been recipients.

Charlotte has also been trying to improve the way that children with cancer are treated in a bid to help professionals catch it quicker and help them navigate it in a way that might save more lives.

She was presented the award by Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Stephen Barclay, who has also assured her that there will be movement on the Childhood Cancer Mission that herself and Caroline Dinenage have been working towards.

The next steps will involve more in depth meetings will MP’s and ministers to get the process moving.

Charlotte added: ‘The true star and the one who should have this award is Sophie who, in her final weeks of life, thought of others and her desire to make a difference.

‘No one should have to watch their child die like we did so with the cancer side of things there has to be improvement.

‘If it takes me ruffling some feathers and making some noise to make change, then I will.

Charlotte also said that she would not be where she was without the help of Caroline Dinenage, who has helped her push the Childhood Cancer Mission through Parliament and assisted her throughout the process.

Caroline said: ‘Charlotte has worked tirelessly to campaign for improved child cancer services, from diagnosis, research, experiences of patients, treatments and survivorship.

‘This campaign makes a real tangible difference to other people’s lives. I can think of no one more deserving of this award, Charlotte has used an unimaginable tragedy to campaign for much needed change.

‘I am enormously proud of her.’