A city teen has vowed to raise awareness around a debilitating tumour which took her best friend's life one week before she turned 16.
Amber Cleveland, met Ellie Butterfield online in 2017 and they swiftly became best friends after meeting in real life in 2019.
However, Ellie had began suffering from double vision at 11 years old and was diagnosed with a grade three ependymoma after a hospital referral by her optician.
An ependymoma is a tumour which can begin in the brain or spinal cord.
Despite multiple surgeries and therapies, Ellie, from Hertfordshire, died in January 2021 - just one week before her 16th birthday.
READ MORE: Husband dies while still grieving the loss of his wife after cancer battle
Amber, 19, said: "We clicked straight away, it was brilliant - like it was meant to be.
"Ellie was the best friend I could've ever asked for.
"I’ve got four brothers so she was like the sister I never had, so bright and bubbly, even while horribly sick.
"She never let her tumour get the better of her, staying active with her love of horse riding and photography.
"She was so full of character - probably more than anyone I have, or will ever, meet."
Amber and her friends held a fundraiser at The Brewery Tap in NR3 on Tuesday.
The night – in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research – featured a raffle, tombola, prizes for the best fancy dress, stalls and a pub quiz.
Amber has also set up a JustGiving page in her friend's memory.
Amber, who has met others affected by brain tumours since Ellie died, said: "We decided to do something special in Ellie’s memory.
READ MORE: Grandmother died after delays and miscommunication in cancer diagnosis
"The quiz questions were based on things she loved, like her favourite TV shows, music and cars.
"She also absolutely loved Halloween so doing it then made sense.
"Ellie never got to live the life she deserved and there are so many other young people not getting the chance they deserve because of the lack of investment in brain tumour research.
"It’s just not fair."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here