Final farewell for courageous Olivia

THE funeral of a schoolgirl whose courageous battle against cancer captured the nation’s hearts will be held tomorrow in her home town of Fraserburgh.

Olivia Downie, seven, died on Friday in the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, less than 48 hours after she had been flown home following the failure of specialist treatment in Mexico.

Olivia was diagnosed in January 2009 as suffering from stage four neuroblastoma – a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer that attacks the nervous system.

Her parents, Steven and Lauren, had flown with Olivia to the Hope 4 Cancer Institute in Tijuana, but she failed to respond to the treatment.

She will be buried at Kirktown Cemetery in Fraserburgh, following a service at the Old Parish Church.