South Leeds community turns out as late toddler Skye Sutcliffe is laid to rest in Frozen-themed service

Friends, family, neighbours and well-wishers paid their respects to two-year-old Skye Sutcliffe at her funeral service at St Cross Church, in Middleton, today.

She was taken in a white horse-drawn carriage to the church where those attending were asked to wear something relating to the Disney film Frozen, which Skye adored.

A personalised postbox was also created by the family so that guests could write down and post their memories of Skye.

The youngster, who had been fighting a rare combination of blood cancers, passed away last Tuesday.

A statement released by the family read: “We would like to say thank you to all who attended the goodbye service for Skye Pie.

“It was a fabulous turn out for our little miss and thanks for all the great effort put into our Frozen theme I know it must have been hard you all did great.”

The south Leeds community rallied behind Skye’s family last week, releasing hundreds of lanterns and organising a ‘Light Up the Skye’ firework display in her memory.

The event raised around £1,000 to go towards her funeral costs and Skye’s long-running fundraisers in aid of Candlelighters and Delete Blood Cancer UK, which have so far generated more than £17,000.

Following the funeral many have taken to Skye’s Facebook page to send their wishes. One said: “May your little star in heaven shine bright.”

Another added: “Skye touched and captured so many people’s hearts with her seemingly ever-lasting smile and spirit. Sleep tight princess.”

Skye, who only turned two in September, was initially diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic and myeloid leukaemia when she was 20 weeks old and her battle with the disease led her family to raise thousands of pounds for charity while organising events encouraging people to sign the bone marrow register.

It was hoped that Skye could overcome her rare double diagnosis in August last year, when her brother Harvey, four, donated bone marrow to her but within months few donor cells remained and her illness was deemed terminal.

Despite the prognosis, doctors found that she had made a miraculous recovery in June when she went into ‘spontaneous remission’ but she later had an “extremely aggressive” relapse.

To donate to Skye’s fundraising pages visit justgiving.com/Skye-Sutcliffe or justgiving.com/Skye-sutcliffe1