Hope House Hospice makes plea to wear ribbons in memory of 10-year-old Evie Davies

Just 20 mourners are allowed at 10-year-old Evie Davies’s funeral on Tuesday under social distancing rules – but staff at the hospices hope hundreds more will join in a celebration of her life by wearing a bow in their hair or ribbon pinned to their clothes and lighting up social media by sharing photos of themselves tagged #Ribbons4Evie.

Evie, from Treuddyn near Mold, was born with a life-threatening condition and spent much of her life being supported by Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospice in Conwy.

Evie was, in the words of her mum, a 'little fighter'. With the help of her parents and siblings, she enjoyed doing everything from disco-dancing in her wheelchair, to attending school and making lots of friends at Ysgol Pen Coch in Flint.

She was a VIP across North Wales, and loved nothing more than dressing up as a 'real life princess', with bows in her 'beautiful long hair and pretty shoes'.

Last spring, she starred in a fundraising campaign for Hope House and Ty Gobaith, and earlier this year she was asked to open their new store in Flint.

In ordinary times, Evie’s family would have been able to make sure she had a funeral fit for a princess, with a full church of family and friends to celebrate their amazing little girl’s life. Ordinarily she would have also been able to have a burial.

But, in these challenging times, funerals are restricted to the shortest of services at a local crematorium with a maximum of 20 mourners and no hymns.

It is heart-breaking for everyone who loves Evie, but her family are looking forward to seeing how many people can join them on social media by wearing a bow or ribbon and posting photographs using #Ribbons4Evie.

Mum Linda said: “We will have a service of thanksgiving for Evie’s life at some time in the future, a proper service for her and a burial.

“But on Tuesday it will be lots smaller. We will play her favourite song – Strong from Disney’s Cinderella – and I am going to read a poem called Butterfly kisses and her sister Caitlin has written some special words. I’m so sad that it has to be short and we won’t be allowed any hymns or anything like that.

“One thing I can do though is make sure Evie will be wearing her favourite princess dress – the one she wore for her tenth birthday party, and her crown and of course her bows.”

Linda says that all the mourners at Tuesday’s funeral will wear Evie’s bows to remember her by, and that is what has given the hospice staff the idea to celebrate Evie’s life.

“Evie was an incredible little girl and it is such a shame that her family can’t have the funeral they would like because of the coronavirus crisis,” said Ty Gobaith Head of Care Angharad Davies.

“We think wearing bows and ribbons is a lovely way to remember Evie on Tuesday and celebrate her life. She always loved her beautiful dresses and was never dressed without a bow, so she would certainly approve.

“I know it would mean the world to Evie’s family if other people around the region could also spend a little time thinking of Evie at 2.30pm on Tuesday and could wear a ribbon.”

Evie’s family have also set up a page where people can make a donation to Hope House and Ty Gobaith in her memory: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ribbonsforevie

You can read more about Evie at www.hopehouse.org.uk/eviesstory