The Rotary Club of Portsmouth North has welcomed back Charlotte Fairall, founder and CEO of her charity Sophie’s Legacy, when the Club made a further donation in support of the Charity’s amazing work.

Sophie’s Legacy was created in memory of Sophie Fairall and the legacy of change she wanted to create. Sophie had just turned 9 when she was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2020. During her treatment, she endured 9 rounds of intense chemotherapy and 7 weeks of radiotherapy. Sophie never managed to get into remission and in June 2021, after only eight weeks on a programme of maintenance chemotherapy, she relapsed. With no treatment options left Sophie passed away aged 10, in September 2021, just 1 year after her diagnosis.

During her long months of treatment Sophie wrote a list of things she saw in the hospital that she wanted changed, and she made her mother promise to fulfil that list. The list included improvements for parents staying with children in hospital, better food and an increase in childhood cancer research funding. Following Sophie’s death the charity was founded in Portsmouth, primarily at Queen Alexandra hospital, but it is working to achieve national change for Sophie’s wishes and remarkable progress has been made. The Charity’s work will be her legacy in memory of a remarkable young girl who touched so many lives.

This is an amazing story of love and courage. You can support Sophie’s Legacy by going to the website and, if you wish to know more of Rotary’s work in support of local charities, you can contact the Club Secretary at keith@acorn-companies.co.uk