A FOUNDATION set up in memory of a one-year old girl who lost her battle with Leukaemia has opened its first charity shop in Purewell.

Isabel’s Treasures, run by The Isabel Baker Foundation, held a coffee morning as part of its official opening on Saturday February 1.

The shop came on the market as Christchurch Florist, who have been big supporters of The Isabel Baker Foundation, wanted to upsize and moved next-door into store previously used by the Purewell Coffee and Gift Shop.

Vicky Turner, Isabel’s mother, said: “The shop will help us generate more income for the charity and help us be a focal point on the high street where people can come and donate to the foundation.

“The opening was amazing; we had a lot of people come in and we took lots of donations. We took over £300 on the first day, it was busy pretty much all day.

“We have had an amazing response to people wanting to volunteer at the shop so far, but we are always looking for new volunteers, especially when it comes to the holiday season.”

The shop was officially opened by Annabelle Ginn aged 7, who recently had a brain tumour but has been making huge strides in her recovery.

The Isabel Baker Foundation was set up in September 2015, in memory of Isabel Baker, who passed away from Leukaemia eight days after her first birthday a month earlier on August 12.

Last year The Isabel Baker Foundation went to parliament to support Carolyn Harris MP's campaign for the Children's Funeral Fund.

The scheme, which was implemented in June last year, provides money for bereaved families of children under 18 or babies stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy to go towards funeral cost.

As a result of their involvement with the campaign, The Isabel Baker Foundation are looking to set up their next fundraising project to provide a holiday lodge where sick or terminally ill children can visit for free to make memories with their family.

Vicky added: “We are so lucky to live where we do, and we want other people who have been going through tough times to have some respite and enjoy the lovely scenery in Dorset.

“The foundation need to speak to local holiday homes to find out what they have to offer, what accessibility will be like for children with mobility problems and what will work best for what we want to offer families.

“We would love for people to continue supporting the holiday home idea. In the next month or so, we will be speaking to holiday parks around Dorset to try and first the right one for our idea. We will need help fundraising, but we are definitely looking to sort something either this year or next year.”