A MOTHER from Blackbird Leys hopes an image of her late daughter will raise awareness of the rare childhood cancer which cut short her life.

Ann Woodward said her life fell apart last year, when three-year-old Chintzia died after battling neuroblastoma.

The toddler was diagnosed with the cancer, which affects just 100 children a year in the UK, in January 2010.

Ms Woodward said she had at first thought her little girl had flu, but the toddler died in her sleep just months after being diagnosed with the condition.

This week is International Neuroblastoma Week and the charity Families Against Neuroblastoma (FAN) is keen to raise awareness of the illness.

It has produced a “Kindness Voucher”, featuring images of 100 children whose lives were claimed by the cancer.

FAN wants its supporters to hand out the voucher, which shows a picture of Chintzia, when they want to do a good deed for another person.

Ms Woodward said: “Chintzia was a happy, cheeky, little girl. Everyone who met her fell in love with her.

“I hope that some good can now come out of her short life.”

Since Chintzia’s death, Ms Woodward has raised more than £5,000 in her memory, most recently with a fete at the Oxford Sea Scout headquarters in Donnington Bridge.

The money has been split between FAN, Oxford Children’s Hospital and a fund set up in Chintzia’s name which will be used to fund research into neuroblastoma.

Ms Woodward said: “I have up and down days. It would have been Chintzia’s fourth birthday on June 6, and then it was the anniversary of her passing away on June 22, so these past few weeks have been tough.

“It brought back a lot of memories. But I have had a lot of support from my family and friends and all the fundraising projects have helped keep me going.”

The Didcot Thong Rangers will dedicate a Family Fun Day Extravaganza to FAN. The day will be held at Didcot Football Club on August 28.

See FAN’s website at familiesagainst neuroblastoma.org