A WIRRAL family who lost their seven-year-old daughter to a brain tumour will make a heartfelt appeal to millions watching tonight's BBC’s Children In Need show.

Linda and Colin Cook, from Wallasey, will feature during the programme talking about Ellie, who was cared for during her illness by Claire House Children’s Hospice.

Their video will be introduced by pop star and X Factor judge Cheryl Fernandez-Versini.

The family, including younger daughter Emelia, now six, were able to spend time together at the hospice, where Ellie enjoyed physiotherapy sessions in a specially adapted pool, as well as arts and crafts sessions and trips out.

Following her death, Ellie rested in the hospice’s Butterfly Suite and her family have been supported by the hospice ever since.

Claire House Children’s Hospice is just one of the charities that benefits from the money raised by BBC’s Children In Need, with the fundraising giant having recently funded play therapy at the Bebington-based facility.

Mum Linda, who works for Wirral Council, said: “It’s always a pleasure to talk about Ellie and the wonderful work of Claire House. Ellie loved it there and whilst we miss her every single day, we are so comforted by the memories of the time we spent as a family at the hospice.

“Children In Need have supported Claire House through donations for a number of years now, so it was really important to us to tell everyone on Friday night about the great work children’s hospices do and encourage people to pick up the phone and donate.

"We’ll forever be grateful to charities like Children In Need and Claire House for the care Ellie received.”

Linda and Emelia will watch the show on Friday night live from the BBC’s studios in London.

Lesley Fellows, hospice to home manager at Claire House - who also features in the video - said; “Ellie was an amazingly brave little girl with a wicked sense of humour and her and her family really did make every day count before she passed away - I’m so proud Claire House was able to play a part in that.

“Children In Need have helped us provide play therapy here at the hospice; an important element of our care that all the children love to take part in.

"We’re thrilled as a charity to be featured on the programme and we hope Ellie’s story means that many more people know about the work of Claire House and how they can support children like her.”

For more information on Ellie’s story and how you can support local children with terminal illnesses, visit claire-house.org.uk