A teenage girl who died after a life-long battle with illness will be remembered at a village pantomime.

Charlotte Craggs, of Loose, was born deaf and with Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, a rare condition which can cause skeletal abnormalities.

The disease made the 18-year-old prone to skin and bone cancer which she was diagnosed with in 2011.

But the brave teen was determined to beat it and succeeded.

This triumph made it more devastating when she caught an infection in hospital and despite undergoing treatment, died in her sleep on Thursday, October 12.

In two weeks, her brothers – Matthew, 10, Alex, seven, and Oliver, five, – are due to pay tribute to their sister in Boughton Monchelsea’s production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The Rev Geoff Davis, who conducted Charlotte’s funeral, will also star in the festive production and funds raised will be donated to Demelza children’s hospice, where Charlotte died and had previously received respite when recovering from cancer.

Mum Sarah Cohen, 47, of Hanson Drive, said: “The Demelza nurses have been brilliant. They have been there for the whole family.

“It’s lovely the panto is in Charlotte’s memory, especially as exactly a year ago she would have been having a great time at the Demelza Christmas party.

“Despite everything, Charlotte was a happy and lively girl but she could be a diva.

“Once, she had a group of nurses lined up in her hospital room at 3am teaching them sign language.”

Matthew, Alex and Oliver, who go to Boughton MonchelPrimary School in Church Hill, are Mrs Cohen’s children with husband Paul, 50.

Mrs Cohen had Charlotte, who attended the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate, and her two siblings, Adam, 22, and Amy, 20, in a previous marriage.

The whole family will pay tribute on Saturday, on what would have been her 19th birthday.

Charlotte wanted to celebrate the date at a Chinese restaurant but when she realised the seriousness of her condition, her wish was for her loved ones to go in her memory.

n The Church Hill village hall pantomime tickets cost £7.50 for adults and £3.50 for children.

Shows are 7pm on Friday, December 13, 2.30pm and 7pm on Saturday, December 14,
and 2.30pm on Sunday, December 15. To book call 01622 747 024.