"EVERY smile she gave me was a bonus."

Heartbroken mum Nanette Rawstron today paid tribute to her daughter Kelsie, who had her young life tragically cut short by multiple sclerosis (MS).

Northfields School pupil Kelsie Copping, from Westfield Place in Acomb, York, died aged only 11 in her mother's loving arms.

Now her family are to remember their brave daughter by asking mourners at her funeral to donate to our Guardian Angels Appeal - along with Martin House Hospice, where she died.

Kelsie was featured in the Evening Press only two months ago, when mum Nanette backed our appeal to transform high dependency care in York Hospital's children's ward.

Now she is asking people to give to Guardian Angels so others might be spared the stress of constant trips to Leeds General Infirmary - a regular pattern in her own life during the years of coping with Kelsie's debilitating illness.

"We feel if somebody else was in the same predicament, they could come home to a bed early," said Nanette.

"Nothing against Leeds, but it's a bit busy. York is more family-oriented."

Nanette, 39, and Chris, 42, both gave up their jobs to become full-time carers for Kelsie, a bubbly little girl who was perfectly healthy until she was four.

It was then that she began to have fits and lost control of movement in an arm. After six months, she was eventually diagnosed with MS - one of the youngest people in Britain to have been struck down with the disease.

"I was shocked, but I was also relieved, because for ages they didn't know what was wrong with her," said Nanette of her daughter's diagnosis.

When Kelsie was seven, fundraisers in York raised thousands to send the fun-loving youngster on a magical trip to Disneyland Paris.

Her irrepressible spirit will still be felt at her funeral, when mourners will be asked to wear pink, because it was Kelsie's favourite colour. Even her coffin will be painted pink.

Nanette said: "The pink princess - that's what most people remember her as.

"She loved a laugh and a joke.

"She's decided she wants to take control of her life now, and do what she wants. I'm pleased she picked me as a mum, and Chris as her dad.

"I don't want people to stop talking about her.

"She's an angel from above to me."

On Friday, the Evening Press told how 20-year-old Natalie Strickson had died suddenly at her Haxby home.

Natalie suffered from a rare heart condition as a child. Her family said they wanted donations from Natalie's funeral to go to our Guardian Angels appeal.

Updated: 10:06 Monday, December 05, 2005