The family of childhood cancer sufferer Jessica Whelan have confirmed her death

Cancer.

If there's one word that can strike fear in the hearts of many, it's cancer. The majority of us have experienced it in some shape or form, either personally or watching a loved one suffer. Watching an adult in pain is difficult enough but a vulnerable child must be even harder. Andy Whelan's four-year-old daughter had terminal cancer, stage four neuroblastoma to give it its technical term, and weeks ago he shared an image to highlight the need for continued research into the all-consuming beast that is cancer. Sadly, the four-year-old, from Lancashire in the UK passed away earlier today. Heartbroken father Andy confirmed the news with a Facebook post, saying she had died in her sleep.

"I feel both sadness and relief in informing you all that Jessica finally found peace at seven o’clock this morning. No longer does she suffer, no longer does she feel the pain of the physical constraints of her body. "Now my princess has grown her angel wings and has gone up to play with her friends and loved ones. She will now watch down over her little brother and ourselves until one day we are reunited again. Last night she finally allowed me to hold her in my arms and we had a big cuddle as I told her how much I loved her. I told her again that it was okay for her to close her eyes and go to sleep and I kissed her forehead and her lips numerous times. "It seems like this is what she needed to finally allow her to find comfort in her passing as within eight hours of this cuddle she finally took her final breath. "She was a daddy’s girl from the start and even right up to the end. I feel like a massive part of me has just been torn away but I am so glad that I could give her that comfort in her final hours. She passed peacefully and calmly with not even a murmur.

"Thank you to everyone of you who has shared and has been a part of our journey. I ask now for privacy for us and our family as we mourn the loss of our beautiful princess. "From a heartbroken daddy of the most amazing and beautiful girl."