PARENTS who lost their 17-year-old daughter to cancer have thanked the hundreds of friends, family and total strangers who offered their condolences.

Steve and Rosie Norton, of Grove, held their daughter Maisie in their arms as she died on Thursday after a six-year battle with cancer.

In the days since, the family – including Maisie’s sister Ellie, 20, and her brother Owen, 15 – have been inundated with flowers, cards and visits to their home in Fulmar Place.

Mrs Norton said: “Saturday morning I thought the door had fallen in – there was that much post.”

Mr Norton added: “The doorbell hasn’t stopped ringing. People have been amazing. There have been photographs and videos of Maisie put on Facebook which we’ve never seen before.”

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Wantage charity fundraiser Ray Collins, who helped Maisie raise hundreds of pounds for Cancer Research, said that all the tributes from friends were a testament to their character as much as Maisie, and Mr Norton said that summed up how he felt.

Maisie was first diagnosed with a tumour on her left kidney in January 2009.

That kidney was removed and she was given the all-clear in 2012, but the cancer returned three times and Maisie continued to have treatment and operations until this month.

Mrs Norton said: “I think it is absolutely incredible how one child could have gone through all that.

“I think about the sort of person she could have grown into, with her strength and determination – she could have ruled the world.”

Despite battling the disease, Maisie helped raise hundreds of pounds for Cancer Research UK and similar charities.

As a 15-year-old, she and another young cancer sufferer, Mikayla Beames, inspired more than 500 people to join a sponsored walk in Wantage for Cancer Research UK.

In August last year Maisie passed 11 of her GCSEs at King Alfred’s Academy in Wantage – a landmark she thought she might never reach.

The school has set up a commemorative area in the sixth form with flowers and photographs where students can contribute to a book of memories.

Maisie’s parents agreed that the best decision they ever made as a family was to go on holiday to Orlando, Florida, in April.

Mrs Norton said: “DisneyWorld was her favourite place in the world. Her childhood was robbed from her from the age of 10, and she always wanted to watch animated Pixar films.”

She added: “Maisie was scared of dying. She said to me ‘what if no-one cares when I’m gone?’ If only she could have seen. I think what hurt her most in the last few days was not being able to reply to her friends texting her.”

Maisie’s friend Simran Bhatia, 17, said: “Maisie was the most caring and loving girl you could ever meet. Her family is one of the strongest families I know.”

Maisie’s funeral will be held at SS Peter and Paul Church in Wantage next Wednesday, from 2pm, and there will be a reception at the Bear Hotel afterwards.

Mr and Mrs Norton asked that only family buy flowers.

They have asked anyone else who would like to do something in Maisie’s memory to make a donation to the Caring Cancer Trust, which takes young sufferers on holidays.

See caringcancertrust.com