Safiyya Vorajee has revealed that she is feeling ’emotional’ ahead of the one-year anniversary of the death of her daughter Azaylia, saying it will be an ‘incredibly tough day’.
The 33-year-old partner of former footballer Ashley Cain told MailOnline in an exclusive interview that she ‘has a lump in her throat’ ahead of the date in late April.
Safiyya was speaking ahead of the launch of her Safiyya Vorajee X Abbott Lyon jewellery collection for International Women’s Month – where all the money raised from sales of the Sphere Lion Necklace will go to The Azaylia Foundation set up in her memory.
Brave: Safiyya Vorajee has revealed that she is feeling ’emotional’ ahead of the one-year anniversary of the death of her daughter Azaylia, saying it will be an ‘incredibly tough day’
Azaylia sadly lost her life on April 25th at just eight months old following a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia.
Speaking about the upcoming anniversary, she said: ‘It will be an incredibly tough day. It makes me feel very emotional to talk about it. I have a lump in my throat now.
‘There are lots of things in the pipeline that we will be doing with the foundation like a non-school uniform day to mark the anniversary.
‘The foundation is hoping to raise awareness and the anniversary will be too. We need to raise awareness of rare cancers, so many children get it that it isn’t really rare at all.
Mother: The 33-year-old partner of footballer Ashley Cain told MailOnline in an exclusive interview that she ‘has a lump in her throat’ ahead of the date in late April
‘We need more funding and for GPs to have more training of how to spot the signs. The foundation are committed to helping other families.’
The main piece being sold as part of the Safiyya Vorajee X Abbott Lyon collection is the Sphere Lion Necklace, which Safiyya says symbolizes ‘life and strength’.
On where her motivation comes from to work on projects like the jewellery line as she deals with the loss of her daughter, she said: ‘Azaylia is my fight and my drive. I will always honour her strength and fight.’
Pretty: Safiyya was speaking ahead of the launch of her Safiyya Vorajee X Abbott Lyon jewellery collection for International Women’s Month – where all the money raised from sales will go to The Azaylia Foundation set up in her memory (pictured wearing the Sphere Lion Necklace from the collection)
Safiyya – who poignantly revealed that her happiest memory of Azaylia was the day she was born – also opened up about what advice she would give to other parents who are going through the pain of being in hospital with an ill child.
She said: ‘I would tell them to treasure every moment with their child. We really tried to embrace Azaylia as much as we could. And people should just take each day as it comes, and make them smile, you need to keep that positive energy.’
‘I meet families who have been through the same thing all the time. I get women coming up to me in ASDA, people come and talk to me all the time.
‘Women always message me on Instagram as well and I want to empower other people and other women to be able to help their children and support the situation.’
Devastating: Azaylia sadly lost her life on April 25th at just eight months old following a courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia (pictured with Ashley)
Safiyya and Ashley were always very open with their journey when their little one was sick, posting regular updates on social media, which connected them to a community of people going through the same thing.
While most people would be overwhelmed with other grieving parents approaching them for support, Safiyya bravely revealed that she likes to help people out and lend an ear when she can.
She said: ‘I am very happy for people to come up to me, sometimes people feel more comfortable to come to me to talk than they do their own partner or family, people can shut down a lot when they have to talk to someone that they know.
‘I’m so glad that we shared it with the world. She was an absolute beacon of light and we got to share that with everyone. The public have been our biggest support.
‘Over 80,000 people registered to be a donor for her when she was really sick. I am so proud of my daughter and I get to talk about that and I hope that it can help others.’
On how she copes with dealing with her grief in the public eye, she said: ‘I just breathe first. I let it all out on my own in the run up to big events and the anniversary coming up for example.
‘I let my own personal emotions out first so that I can do what I need to do.’
Speaking about the jewellery campaign she said: ‘It has been an absolute privilege to work with Abbott Lyon on the campaign. They want to make people feel great and they have made these bespoke pieces of jewellery.
Upset: Speaking about the upcoming anniversary, she said: ‘It will be an incredibly tough day. It makes me feel very emotional to talk about it. I have a lump in my throat now’
‘We have the circle pendant with the lion to symbolize strength and life. All of the funds will go to The Azaylia Foundation. The pieces have a sentimental meaning and I have had a passion for this project and for helping to design the pieces.’
Azaylia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at eight weeks and had tumours on her lungs, stomach and kidneys.
She was given several rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant at Birmingham Children’s Hospital but she died in April last year.
Before her death, Ashley and Safiyya set up a GoFundMe appeal for her to have pioneering treatment in Singapore, currently unavailable in the UK.
Azaylia’s heartbreaking story captured hearts worldwide as well-wishers donated £1.6million and they launched The Azaylia Foundation to help people going through similar situations.
The charity aims to support families that are fundraising for treatments that may not be readily available on the NHS and provide children with memorable experiences as they fight cancer.
You can donate to The Azaylia Foundation here: https://www.theazayliafoundation.com/
Tragic: Azaylia was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia at eight weeks and had tumours on her lungs, stomach and kidneys
Design: The main piece being sold as part of the Safiyya Vorajee X Abbott Lyon collection is the Sphere Lion Necklace (pictured), which Safiyya says symbolizes ‘life and strength’
