Five-year-old Holly Prince's father Mark thanks Wigan Warriors for their "outstanding" kit gesture.
The dad of a five-year-old girl who died of cancer has spoken about carrying on his daughter's legacy after Wigan Warriors named a new kit in her honour.
Holly's Kit was launched by the rugby league giants to raise money for Derian House Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire, where Holly Prince received end-of-life care for kidney cancer after she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Bloom Syndrome.
Mark Prince, 41, said his daughter was an "amazing, funny, cheeky little girl" who "made a mark on everybody who she met".
"The circumstances are so tragic - but the kit gives us an opportunity to show a wider audience how amazing Holly was," said Mark, from Hindley, Greater Manchester.
Holly was born three weeks premature and began her early life on growth hormones.
She was the third child of Mark and Jenny Prince, now 41.
At six months old, Holly was diagnosed with Bloom Syndrome - an incredibly rare and incurable genetic condition that only affects about 300 people in the world.
"We just thought she was this tiny little dot and that she was just petite," said Mark.
"I'm only short and so is my wife - we're not tall people - so we just thought she would catch up eventually.
"We were just devastated when we found out [Holly's diagnosis] because we felt so alone.
"There was nobody to turn to at all."
Mark and his wife were told that people with Bloom Syndrome had a higher risk of developing cancer.
Two years later Holly was diagnosed with kidney cancer aged three - and was given 12 chemotherapy sessions before having her kidney removed.
"She wasn't fazed by anything," Mark said. "She was just so happy - she just got on with it."
Nothing further could be done to cure Holly and she spent her final days at Derian House.
"People think children's hospices are doom and gloom, but it's much more than that," Mark explained.
"They offer loads more than what people think."
After Holly died, Mark said staff at the hospice had allowed the family to stay at an apartment on site when they visited her in a chapel of rest.
Even now, Mark said he visits a bereaved fathers' group every month.
The lifelong Wigan Warriors fan said the Super League side's decision to name the design 'Holly's kit' was an "outstanding, amazing, heartfelt gesture".
The club initially withheld the design of the kit and asked fans to buy it on trust.
It was unveiled last week.
The kit marks a year-long partnership between Wigan and Derian House to raise awareness and funds through matchday bucket collections and player and staff involvement in hospice events.
There will also be a dedicated fixture on 19 April when the Warriors will finally wear the Derian House kit - which combines the charity's green, black and white colours - public.
Kris Radlinski, chief executive at Wigan Warriors, said: "This club has always been about more than rugby.
"Asking our supporters to buy the kit without seeing it is about trust, values and community - and backing a charity that does extraordinary work for families across our town and region."
Derian House currently supports 58 children and families from the Wigan area.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Related internet links
Category: General Sports
