A family have vowed not to let their son’s death be in vain, by setting up a charity in his name.

Lee and Fiona Cripps set up The Ollie Pops Trust after losing brave four-year-old Ollie to leukaemia in September.

The youngster, of Archers Park, Sittingbourne, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in June 2017.

He was treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton.

Now the family is rallying to raise £5,000 so it can become a registered charity.

The trust aims to help parents of children with cancer by providing food, toiletries and gifts when they are in hospital.

Mr Cripps, 29, said: “You don’t ever think of a child getting cancer, you would expect it for yourself or your grandparents but not your child.

“If we let him die and carry on with our lives and don’t let this experience change us, then he’s died in vain.

“When you’re at the hospital you don’t get any provisions, it was tough. We were living two separate lives.

“We want to be able to ease that strain and burden for other families.

“Even if we can raise enough for food packages for parents in hospital that would be fantastic.

“We want to facilitate the wants and needs of parents of children living with cancer.”

The family went to the hospital at Christmas to donate food and toys for patients and parents.

“We’ve got a lot to give and to teach from our experience and it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t try to improve things for people,” he added.

“It’s in memory of our son. He loved that place, we love the hospital so we can’t not help. It just feels right.”

Ollie’s brother Finley, seven, has pledged to run a children’s obstacle course to help fund raise for the trust.

He will take on the Little Welly challenge with his dad in Kemsing, on May 12.

A quiz night is also planned for April 12, at the Woodstock Club in Broadoak Road,Sittingbourne. Entry is £5 a person and teams of up to 12 people.

• To donate go to tinyurl.com/OlliePops or find The Ollie Pops Trust on Facebook.