Eileidh loses fight for life just weeks after ‘wedding’

● Cancer victim, ‘won hearts of everyone she met’

A terminally ill five-year-old girl who “married” her best friend last month has died.

Eileidh Paterson and Harrison Grier, six, were declared “best friends forever” at a heartwarming ceremony on 18 June.

Eileidh, who had the rare childhood cancer neuroblastoma, made a bucket list after being told her condition was terminal and ranked marrying Harrison at the top.

Hundreds of well-wishers

GLASGOW

attended their fairytale “wedding” at the AECC in Aberdeen, with some guests travelling hundreds of miles.

Footage of the ceremony was shared worldwide and seen by viewers in countries including China, Australia and North America.

A fundraising page to complete other tasks on her bucket list had recently passed the £10,000 target, with more than £12,000 raised.

Her mother Gail, 41, wrote on the fundraising Facebook page Eileidh’s Journey on Saturdaynightthattheyoungster had lost her battle with cancer.

She said: “With a very heavy heart, I’m heartbroken to tell you all that Eileidh gained her Angel wings at 11:45am on Saturday, 1 July.

“Unfortunately it was discovered on Thursday, after an ultrasound scan, that Eileidh’s liver was enlarged and full of neuroblastoma.

“This was the most aggressive she has ever had as it grew extremely rapidly. She took her last breath surrounded by her family.

“She won the hearts of everyone who met her and will be sorely missed.”

At the ceremony, friends and family gathered in a meeting room as the children, both from Forres, Moray, held hands and exchanged necklaces.

A lone piper got the event under way and was followed to a makeshift altar by a procession of guests dressed as superheroes and princesses.

Eileidh was walked into the room by her older brother, Callum, to When You Wish Upon a Star from the Disney film Pinocchio.

After they were declared “best friends forever”, Eileidh and Harrison celebrated with candy floss.

Ms Paterson raised more than £120,000 to send Eileidh to America for treatment in 2015, and has since campaigned to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

Through her Eileidh’s Journey page, she aims to make people more aware of the symptoms of the illness.