TikTok star's 'beautiful spirit' continues - mum

The mother of a TikTok star who died from a rare form of cancer has said her daughter's "beautiful spirit" will live on through the work being done by a community company set up in her name.

Leah Smith, from Woolton, in Liverpool, died on 11 March from Ewing's Sarcoma, a bone cancer which usually affects children and young people.

The 22-year-old helped millions by sharing her cancer diagnosis on the social media platform.

Seven months on from her death, her family said she would continue to help others after they established a not-for-profit community interest company called Leah's Little Sunflowers.

Jenny Smith said her daughter would be "very proud" of their efforts.

Leah's Little Sunflowers has been set up to help other families struggling with cancer.

Ms Smith said: "Whatever spirit she had - to be the person she was - is still alive and is still burning and we are keeping it going.

"This community company is Leah, every single bit of it".

Ms Smith, and Leah's brother Liam, said everything they had done in setting it up was from Leah's inspiration.

"It feels scary but we've done it," Ms Smith said.

"Everything that we do, it's all Leah's ideas".

Leah's Little Sunflowers is aiming to raise up to £20,000 to purchase an adapted caravan, based in Southport, for families who are dealing with cancer or other serious illnesses to holiday in.

Ms Smith said: "Getting away from it all is the best thing we did as a family when we found out Leah was going to die."

Leah received millions of likes on her videos which showed her daily life living with Ewing sarcoma, usually diagnosed in people aged 10 to 20.

Since her death, Ms Smith said she had been contacted by many people who were coming to terms with a terminal diagnosis for their loved ones.

She said she hoped in the future to help more families by providing counselling sessions but for now they were celebrating the company's official registration.

In another tribute, one of Leah's followers has created a dress in her honour.

The Leah dress was designed by Macey, of Liverpool shop, Peonies and Cream, and shown to fashion designers on a catwalk show at the Metquarter shopping centre in Liverpool.

Like Leah's Little Sunflowers, Ms Smith said the dress, too, was inspired by her daughter's positive energy.

She said: "Macey said all the reflections off the glass on the sunflower stems are a reflection of Leah's positivity, it's a beautiful dress".

Ms Smith said the past seven months without her daughter had been incredibly difficult.

"It's learning to navigate life without her," she said.

"She was the boss and we are all a bit lost without our boss but I am trying.

"All I feel when I think about Leah is amazed and I have this burning ball inside of just overwhelming pride."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas to [email protected]