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Liverpool TikTok star who charted cancer journey laid to rest

BBC The scene of Leah Smith's funeral outside the churchBBC
Crowds gathered outside the church to welcome the horse-drawn hearse

A young woman who used TikTok to document her illness from a rare cancer "wove her life into the hearts of millions", her funeral heard.

Leah Smith, 22, died from Ewing sarcoma, a bone cancer that usually affects children and young people.

Family and friends gathered at All Souls Church, Allerton, Liverpool wearing yellow at Ms Smith's request.

The Reverend Kip Crooks said her family wanted people to be grateful for knowing her.

'Joy and celebration'

He said seeing so many people brightly clothed an holding sunflowers reflected that the occasion was "so positive and so full of joy and celebration" but also one of "real grief and sadness" at the loss "of a life that has been so well lived".

Leah Smith TikTok Leah SmithLeah Smith TikTok
Leah Smith

Her yellow coffin arrived at the church in a white horse-drawn carriage, accompanied by a hearse carrying brightly-coloured bouquets including one spelling out 'Leah'.

Bagpipes played from the street as people entered the church.

The service involved the sharing of memories of Ms Smith, and songs including Yellow by Coldplay, Primadonna by Marina and West Ham FC's official song, I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles.

Mr Crooks said the last song choice might have come as a "surprise" to some, but it was chosen because Ms Smith had become a West Ham fan through her boyfriend, Andrew Moore.

Ms Smith, from Woolton, Merseyside, died on 11 March after being diagnosed with the disease five years ago.

The hearse outside the church
Flowers spelt 'Leah' were displayed in the horse-drawn hearse

Rare cancer

Ewing sarcoma is a rare form of primary bone cancer, with most cases diagnosed in people aged 10 to 20.

The symptoms can depend on the size of the cancer and where it is in the body, according to the NHS.

The main symptoms are a pain in the affected area that gets progressively worse, alongside swelling and tenderness.

Ms Smith captured millions of people on TikTok, recording her daily life living with the cancer.

Mr Crooks said many people followed Ms Smith's story "with a sense of someone sharing, not putting on a show".

"Although she loved to put on a show, full of sincerity about her journey," he added.

More than 60,000 messages of support were left for Ms Smith, her family and friends when her boyfriend Mr Moore shared the news on her TikTok page.