New charity 'overwhelmed' after awards appearance

Florrie Bark won the Pride of Britain's 'Child of Courage' award

A family said they had been "overwhelmed with support" since appearing at the Pride of Britain Awards last week.

Eight-year-old Florrie Bark, from Corby, Northamptonshire received the Child of Courage award following a battle with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive form of cancer.

The family has since set up a charity called Be More Fab to raise money for other children with cancer and fund teachers to work with children in their own homes.

Her father, Andy Bark, said that the charity, which officially launched earlier this year, "couldn't have hoped for anything more" than the exposure it received through Florrie's appearance at the awards.

Mr Bark said the charity had initially hoped to raise £50,000 in its first year but has now raised a total of £120,000 within three months.

"For a charity still in its infancy like we are, it's just incredible," he said.

Mr Bark added the success had meant accelerating the charity's plans in order to "capitalise" on its momentum and "support all the children we want to work with".

Speaking about her hopes for the future of Be More Fab, Florrie said: "I never had a full year of school... I never really learned that much new.

"I wish we had that sort of thing [education support] when I was poorly. I don't want other children to be how it was for me."

Andy Bark (left) said the support the charity had been given was "incredible"

Florrie was diagnosed with AML when she was five and was given a bone marrow transplant, which saved her life.

However, complications left her lungs damaged and she is now awaiting a lung transplant at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

Her mother Stacey Bark said the family had experienced "some really horrible discussions" but praised her daughter for "continuing to fight", adding "we're proud of her, we really are."

Florrie said attending last week's Pride of Britain awards was "really fun".

She said: "I loved meeting everyone, it was especially fun meeting all the other kids... I loved it."

The Bark family wants to help more children like Florrie