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Kirsty Howard, Fundraiser Born With Her Heart Back-To-Front, Dies Aged 20

Young Fundraiser Who Defied Doctors' Predictions Dies At 20
Sarah Ann Harris
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Tributes have flooded in after the death of a young fundraiser who defied doctors to live to see her 20th birthday.

Kirsty Howard was born with her heart back-to-front, leading doctors to predict that she would not survive beyond the age of four.

But the youngster, from Wythenshawe in Manchester, proved medics wrong and went on to raise millions of pounds for Francis House Children’s Hospital in Manchester, ITV reported.

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Kirsty Howard raised millions for charity

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Kirsty hands over the Jubille torch alongside David Beckham

Despite her health problems, Kirsty was tireless in her work and was recognised with the Child of Courage award at the Pride of Britain Awards and the Helen Rollason Award for courage at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

She also met many high-profile figures, including the Queen, David and Samantha Cameron, the Beckhams and a host of others.

Kirsty’s heart condition was so rare that it did not even have a name, according to the Mirror.

She battled her illness hard and went on to study childcare at college, before celebrating her 20th birthday last month with a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

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Doctors predicted Kirsty would not live longer than four years

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She continued to raise money through her charity The Kirsty Club, which was supported by many including Harrod’s boss Mohamed Al Fayed.

Kirsty was admitted to hospital earlier this week with a kidney infection but later went into cardiac arrest and was transferred to intensive care, according to the Manchester Evening News.

She died in the early hours of Saturday surrounded by her family.

A huge number of people paid tribute to Kirsty on social media…

For more information about The Kirsty Club or to donate, click here

Kirsty Howard death
BUPA Great Manchester Run(01 of32)
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Kirsty Howard before the start of the BUPA Great Manchester Run. (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Archive)
Children of Courage Awards Beckham(02 of32)
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Kirsty Howard, 6, from Manchester, with Victoria Beckham in London, where she was one of 11 "Children of Courage" honoured for their outstanding courage at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey. * Earlier the youngesters had met the Prime Minister at Downing Street. Kirsty has to live attached to an oxygen tank because of a rare condition that means her heart is back to front. (credit:Peter Jordan/PA Archive)
Kirsty Howard book signing(03 of32)
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11-year-old terminally ill Kirsty Howard from Manchester at London's Harrods department store today to sign copies of her autobiography. (credit:Johnny Green/PA Archive)
BRITAIN(04 of32)
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British model Caprice, right, arrives at Harrods department store in horse drawn carriage with 14-year-old Kirsty Howard, left, who has her heart back to front, and who needs constant medical care, before they are greeted by owner Mohammed Al Fayed, right, at the store in London, Friday, Sept. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Joel Ryan) (credit:Joel Ryan/AP)
Kirsty Howard death(05 of32)
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File photo dated 04/10/2009 of Conservative leader David Cameron and his wife Samantha meeting Kirsty Howard to learn about the Kirsty Appeal organised for Francis House Children's Hospice in Manchester. The inspirational fundraiser feted by celebrities has died aged 20, after doctors gave her just weeks to live at the age of four. (credit:John Giles/PA Wire)
Kirsty Howard death(06 of32)
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File photo dated 23/08/2012 of Kirsty Howard celebrating after she gained 12 GCSEs, the inspirational fundraiser feted by celebrities has died aged 20, after doctors gave her just weeks to live at the age of four. (credit:Dave Thompson/PA Wire)
Kirsty Howard death(07 of32)
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File photo dated 25/07/2002 of David Beckham and Kirsty Howard handing the Queens Jubille Baton to Queen Elizabeth II after it's final leg around the city of Manchester stadium, at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. The inspirational fundraiser feted by celebrities has died aged 20, after doctors gave her just weeks to live at the age of four. (credit:Phil Noble/PA Wire)
Kirsty Howard death(08 of32)
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File photo dated 30/08/2002 of Ronan Keating switching on the Blackpool Illuminations with Kirsty Howard. The inspirational fundraiser feted by celebrities has died aged 20, after doctors gave her just weeks to live at the age of four. (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Kirsty Howard death(09 of32)
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File photo dated 02/08/2004 of TV presenter Davina McCall joining Kirsty Howard at Harrods Store in Knightsbridge, central London to unveil Kirsty's Gems - an exclusive collection of hand-made jewellery and artefacts inspired by drawings by Kirsty - which will go on sale at Harrods today for one month. All proceeds will go to the Kirsty Appeal on behalf of Francis House, the Manchester based children's hospice. The inspirational fundraiser feted by celebrities has died aged 20, after doctors gave her just weeks to live at the age of four. (credit:Myung Jung Kim/PA Wire)
Kirsty Howard death(10 of32)
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File photo dated 02/01/2002 of Victoria Beckham arriving at Harrods, London, to open the store's January sale with Kirsty Howard. The inspirational fundraiser feted by celebrities has died aged 20, after doctors gave her just weeks to live at the age of four. (credit:Toby Melville/PA Wire)
Kirsty Howard death(11 of32)
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File photo dated 25/07/2002 of David Beckham kissing Kirsty Howard as they carry the Queens Jubille baton on it's final leg around the city of Manchester stadium during the of the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. The inspirational fundraiser feted by celebrities has died aged 20, after doctors gave her just weeks to live at the age of four. (credit:Phil Noble/PA Wire)
Sport - BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards Ceremony - Sheffield Arena(12 of32)
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Kirsty Howard arrives during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards at the Sheffield Arena, Sheffield . (credit:Anna Gowthorpe/PA Archive)
GCSE results(13 of32)
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Sixteen year old Kirsty Howard, from Manchester, who was given just weeks to live at the age of four is celebrating after she gained 12 GCSEs. (credit:Dave Thompson/PA Archive)
Athletics - 2010 BUPA Great Manchester Run(14 of32)
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Kirsty Howard, figurehead of Kirsty's Appeal, is pushed across the finish line during the BUPA Great Manchester Run in Manchester. (credit:Dave Thompson/PA Archive)
Harrods visit for birthday girl Kirsty Howard(15 of32)
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Kirsty Howard and Mohamed Al Fayed are seen celebrating Kirsty's 14th birthday with a trip to Harrods. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Harrods visit for birthday girl Kirsty Howard(16 of32)
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Kirsty Howard, Mohamed Al Fayed and Caprice are seen celebrating Kirsty's 14th birthday with a trip to Harrods. (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Harrods visit for birthday girl Kirsty Howard(17 of32)
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Kirsty Howard and Mohamed Al Fayed are seen celebrating Kirsty's 14th birthday with a trip to Harrods (credit:Ian West/PA Archive)
Kirsty Howard book signing(18 of32)
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11-year-old terminally ill Kirsty Howard from Manchester at London's Harrods department store today to sign copies of her autobiography. (credit:Johnny Green/PA Archive)
Cherie turns on Downing Street Christmas lights(19 of32)
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Cherie Blair is joined by children including Kirsty Howard (front row, right of centre) to turn on the Christmas lights in Downing Street, central London. (credit:Johnny Green/PA Archive)
Kirtsy Howard 11th birthday(20 of32)
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Kirsty Howard celebrates her 11th birthday - seven years after doctors gave her just weeks to live - at the Britannia Airport Hotel, Manchester. ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday September 20, 2006. The youngster, born with a terminal heart defect, won countless hearts as she fought her illness while raising millions for charity. Now Kirsty's Appeal, the charity set up in her name, is just 125,000 short of its 5m target. The money helps to fund the Francis House Hospice for children in Manchester, opened by Princess Diana in 1991. See PA story SOCIAL Kirsty. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett / PA (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Archive)
Kirsty's Gems(21 of32)
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Store owner Mohammed Al Fayed joins Kirsty Howard at Harrods Store in Knightsbridge, central London to unveil Kirsty's Gems - an exclusive collection of hand-made jewellery and artefacts inspired by drawings by Kirsty - which will go on sale at Harrods today for one month. (credit:Myung Jung Kim/PA Archive)
Kirsty's Gems(22 of32)
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TV presenters Gloria Hunnifor (far left) and Davina McCall (right) join Kirsty Howard and store owner Mohammed Al Fayed at Harrods in Knightsbridge, central London to unveil Kirsty's Gems - an exclusive collection of hand-made jewellery and artefacts inspired by drawings by Kirsty - which will go on sale at Harrods today for one month. All proceeds will go to the Kirsty Appeal on behalf of Francis House, the Manchester based children's hospice. (credit:Myung Jung Kim/PA Archive)
Great Manchester Run(23 of32)
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Kirsty Howard before the start of the BUPA Great Manchester Run. (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Archive)
Launching the Bupa Great Manchester Run 2004(24 of32)
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Eight-year-old Kirsty Howard, who suffers with a heart condition, launches the Bupa Great Manchester Run 2004 with Coronation Street star Samia Ghadia (left) and Emmerdale's Emma Atkins and Chris Chittell, at The Urbis, Manchester. The run will be held on May 23. (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Archive)
Launching the Bupa Great Manchester Run 2004(25 of32)
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Eight-year-old Kirsty Howard, who suffers with a heart condition, launches the Bupa Great Manchester Run 2004 with Coronation Street star Samia Ghadia (left) and Emmerdale's Emma Atkins and Chris Chittell, at The Urbis, Manchester. The run will be held on May 23. (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Archive)
Kirsty Howard - Great Manchester Race(26 of32)
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Courageous Kirsty Howard with Coronation Street actress Samia Ghadie, who plays Maria Sutherland, at the finish line of the Great Manchester Run, in the G-Mex Centre, Manchester. African stars Derartu Tulu and Berhane Adere head the entry list for the 10KM road race. (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Archive)
Ronan Keating Blackpool Illuminations(27 of32)
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Ronan Keating switches on the Blackpool Illuminations with six-year-old Kirsty Howard. Kirsty, who was born with her heart back to front, was watched by 20,000 people who had gathered inside the Radio 2 Arena. * to see Keating and chart-toppers A1, Toploader, Darius and the Sugababes at the seaside resort in Lancashire. (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Archive)
Ronan Keating Blackpool Illuminations(28 of32)
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Ronan Keating switches on the Blackpool Illuminations with six-year-old Kirsty Howard. Kirsty, who was born with her heart back to front, was watched by 20,000 people who had gathered inside the Radio 2 Arena. * to see Keating and chart-toppers A1, Toploader, Darius and the Sugababes at the seaside resort in Lancashire. (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Archive)
Harrods Visit For Birthday Girl Kirsty Howard(29 of32)
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Kirsty Howard And Mohamed Al Fayed Are Seen Celebrating Kirsty'S 14Th Birthday With A Trip To Harrods. (Photo by John Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images) (credit:John Phillips via Getty Images)
Manchester United v Arsenal(30 of32)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 7: Russell Watson sings to Kirsty Howard and the Man Utd fans at half time for charity during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester United v Arsenal at Old Trafford on December 7, 2002 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images) (credit:Matthew Peters via Getty Images)
Manchester United v Arsenal(31 of32)
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 7: Russell Watson carries Kirsty Howard of the pitch at half time after singing to her for charity during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Manchester United v Arsenal at Old Trafford on December 7, 2002 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images) (credit:Matthew Peters via Getty Images)
England mascot(32 of32)
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6 Oct 2001: Kirsty Howard, the England mascot, before the World Cup Group 9 Qualifier between England and Greece at Old Trafford in Manchester, England. \ Mandatory Credit: Gary M Prior /Allsport (credit:Gary M. Prior via Getty Images)
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