Couple's Christmas box pledge in daughter's memory

Isla Hoskins died aged five in April at Great Ormond Street Hospital

A couple whose five-year-old daughter died in hospital are raising funds for Christmas boxes for children in the same ward.

Isla Hoskins, from Chertsey, Surrey, had a rare immunodeficiency disorder and spent much of her young life in Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Her parents Chloe Joslin and Mitch Hoskins said they wanted to "give back to those who cared for her so deeply".

The family have so far raised more than £5,000 in 10 days for children who are not well enough to leave the hospital in time for Christmas Day.

Isla spent Christmas 2023 in the hospital and Ms Joslin said "although it was heartbreaking the staff made it such a special day".

She spent a total of 18 months on Robin Ward in the hospital.

Ms Joslin said the ward "became our home and the staff became our family".

She said she hoped the Christmas boxes would "make children and their parents feel special too".

Isla's time at the hospital included two bone marrow transplants and being referred to the palliative care team multiple times.

Chloe Joslin and Mitch Hoskins have raised more than £5,000 in Isla's memory

She died in hospital in April, two weeks before her sixth birthday.

Ms Joslin and her son, who is 13, both have the same genetic disorder as Isla - APDS1 or activated PI3-kinase delta syndrome.

Ms Joslin said: "We will never forget.

"We are now trying to keep Isla's memory alive and help us build her legacy.

"I am so overwhelmed by how generous everyone has been as I really didn't expect this to take off in the way it has."