‘WE fought for Erin throughout her life and we’re fighting still’, family and friends struggling to afford a headstone for a disabled six-year-old said last night.

Little Erin Gracie Adam was born with a rare form of epilepsy, cerebral palsy and part of her brain missing but was expected to live a long life.

The “brave and beautiful” Darlington girl died in December, having battled her severe disabilities for the entirety of her short life.

Within weeks of her untimely death, Erin’s devoted parents and carers Sabrina Purdy and William Adam were stripped of every benefit she was entitled to.

The grieving couple were left struggling to support Erin’s five devastated siblings and unable to afford the £1,600 needed to erect a headstone in her memory.

Family and friends have now organised a series of events in a bid to have a ‘Princess Castle’ headstone, inscribed with a poem written by her father, installed in time for October 11 - Erin's seventh birthday.

Ms Purdy said their efforts reflected the unwavering support of the community throughout Erin’s life – a stark contrast, she says, to the lack of help received from the state.

She said: “Erin was beautiful and smiled all the time, she was like a newborn baby and never complained but would squeal with happiness at her brothers and sisters.

“We thought she’d be with us for the rest of our lives, she went everywhere with us and we didn’t expect to lose her – it was devastating for everyone who knew her.”

Ms Purdy said the family had struggled to afford funeral expenses and were desperate to give their daughter a headstone.

She said: “We weren’t working because we were caring for her full time, we didn’t have a lot of money or insurance to cover it as we hadn’t expected to lose Erin.

“When our friends told us they were going to raise money for us, it was mind-blowing to realise how much Erin meant to everybody.

“They knew the struggle we’d gone through when they took everything she was entitled to from us as soon as she died – we’d had to fight to get it in the first place.

“We would never get through this without them all and the support means everything to us.”

Friend Barry Hogan said: “We are a close-knit community and we try to look after each other.

“Erin was such a happy girl and it was a bolt from the blue to lose her.”

Friends of the family – including Mr Hogan, the Basnetts and Lucy Smith – are set to embark on fundraising activities including a Onesie Walk and a charity fun day, taking place in September.

Raffle prizes are needed for the upcoming fun day. To donate, email lucyleasmith12@live.co.uk.

Anyone wishing to make a donation should visit gofundme.com/wv35xf7.