THE parents of Madison Allan will mark what would have been the youngster’s 10th birthday tomorrow.

Maddi, who captured the hearts of East Lancashire during her almost lifelong battle with childhood cancer neuroblastoma, died on Boxing Day 2011, aged seven.

After her death, mum and dad Samantha and Mark, launched charity Maddi’s Butterflies to help grant the wishes of other children with terminal cancers.

And every year, to raise money for the charity, they host Maddi’s Big Birthday Bash to remember the youngster who helped raise thousands for charity herself during her fight against the disease.

Samantha, who has helped about 200 children since launching Maddi’s Butterflies, many of whom have enjoyed a holiday at the charity’s caravan in Blackpool, said it would be an emotional day.

She said: “I miss my little girl every day and her 10th birthday would have been a very special occasion.

“But we take a great deal of comfort from the fact we have helped other children in Maddi’s name.

“Some of these children only have weeks to live and if we can put a smile on their face, that is everything.”

Before her death, Maddi’s birthday was used as a fundraising event, with her Oscar-themed parties at the Whitehall Hotel in Darwen raising thousands towards a new MRI scanner at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The party itself will be a family fun day at Lower Darwen Primary, Maddi’s old school, featuring a bouncy castle, tombola, games and face painting.

Entry is free to the event, which runs from 10.30am to 4pm. The charity’s new mascot Oscar and his sidekick Freddie will be attending.