Two years ago, Manchester City took a giant step towards their incredible Treble by destroying title challengers Arsenal 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium. The victory on the night of February 15th, 2023, will live long in the memory of all City supporters.
Two hundred miles north, back in Manchester, a family of lifelong City fans were about to have their lives blown apart with the catastrophic loss of their beautiful six-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Milly-Rose.
Kind and polite, happy and loving, active and bright with a real zest for life, Milly-Rose was a huge City fan, going to matches at the Etihad and ‘head over heels’ for Phil Foden.
Such is the wont of a little girl, she said when she grew up she wanted to marry City’s iconic Number 47.
She fell ill on Valentine’s Day evening. Her parents, Philippa and Shaun Stirrup, thought it was most likely a sickness bug which was going around school. She stayed home the following day with Philippa and, although unwell, there was nothing out of the ordinary.
Milly deteriorated and was admitted to A&E.
Nothing could’ve prepared Philippa and Shaun for what was about to unfold. They were at her bedside four hours later as their gorgeous little girl passed away at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
It was an unfathomable tragedy – every parent’s worst nightmare.
It was only in 2024 that Philippa and Shaun learned the cause of Milly-Rose’s death – an extremely rare inherited metabolic condition called LPIN1*.
The mortality rate for anyone with the LPIN1 deficiency is 1 in 3 and, by sharing Milly-Rose’s story, the couple hope to raise awareness of the condition to try and help others identify any early warning signs.
Consumed by grief and nigh on broken, Philippa and Shaun were left feeling helpless and without any purpose in the immediate aftermath of losing Milly-Rose. The fact they didn’t know the cause of her death made it even more devastating.
The one thing they did know was that Milly-Rose’s spirit – the essence of their vibrant little princess – had to live on by helping others most in need.
With those sentiments at the core of her parent’s thinking, the Milly-Rose Stirrup Foundation was born, a charity and lasting legacy, which embodies the tenderness and loving nature of their little girl.
Having endured their own living hell, the couple became acutely aware that bereavement teams in hospitals were crying out for additional support when trying to comfort families through the excruciating pain of losing a child.
Shaun said: “Starting the Milly-Rose Stirrup Foundation has helped turn our agony into purpose. We know only too well the heartache that a grieving parent must bear. The charity enables us to continue to hear her name and carry on her love helping others.”
In just 18 months the Foundation has raised well over £60,000, with donations going to hospitals in and around Manchester, including the Royal Manchester Children’s, Stepping Hill, Macclesfield and Leighton.
The money has been used to decorate, furnish and equip bereavement rooms, where family members can receive counselling and emotional support.
Libraries stocked with children’s stories, activity books covering the loss of a loved one and grief journals to help parents and siblings have been provided. Donations have also bought hand casting kits to make precious keepsakes, along with bespoke children’s hospital gowns.
Specialized cooling ‘cuddle blankets’ are one of the most expensive items funded by the charity. The blanket provides grieving families with the opportunity to spend time with their child in a hospital mortuary, without having to cool the whole room.
At a cost of £5,000 each, many hospitals can’t stretch their budgets to be able to afford them.
Thus far the Foundation’s fundraising events have included Philippa running a dozen 10km events (the 120km Challenge) rugby matches featuring Shaun, golf days, discos, cake bakes, afternoon teas and being adopted as the charity of the year by Milly-Rose’s school – Denton West End Primary.
Having achieved so much in such a relatively short period, Philippa and Shaun are determined to keep building upon Milly-Rose’s legacy, helping more families in the days, weeks, months and years ahead.
Phil Foden invited Philippa, Shaun and other members of the Stirrup family to be his guests when City played Newcastle on March 4th – two weeks after the tragedy.
He dedicated his 15th minute goal in the 2-0 win to Milly-Rose. The sky blue angel would’ve been so thrilled by her ‘Prince Phillip’.
“We really appreciated the kindness shown by Phil, Becca his girlfriend, and the whole City Family after the loss of Milly.
“It was a very special moment to see her name displayed at the Etihad in the 6th minute of the match. To have witnessed the whole stadium clapping for our daughter was incredibly moving – a moment we will never forget”, said Philippa.
This weekend will see the second anniversary of Milly-Rose’s passing and City will once again be facing Newcastle at the Etihad. Shaun and Philippa will be there with Milly-Rose in their hearts, hoping Phil can serve up a much-needed City victory.
And when it comes to serving up something tasty, City fans are invited to take part in Milly-Rose’s tea party on Sunday by having her favourite meal of fishfingers, chips and either beans or peas, or even both!
“We try to do something positive around these difficult dates and we’d love it if as many people as possible would join us sharing Milly’s favourite dinner, taking a moment to think of our beautiful little girl.
“We’ll also be making a special donation to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital to mark Milly’s Anniversary”, added Shaun.
If you would like to support the The MRS Foundation’s work please contact them by clicking the link PLEASE DONATE HERE: https://www.themrsfoundation.co.uk/ Philippa and Shaun would welcome any donation however large or small, as well as any fundraising ideas for 2025 and beyond.
By David Walker
FOR INFORMATION ONLY *
Dedicated to the memory of Milly-Rose Stirrup - a Sky Blue Angel - and her Mummy and Daddy who continue to help other Mums and Dads, brothers and sisters in their darkest hours and times of need.
Twitter @ReadButNeverRed
@djwskyblu
Well done David, beautifully written and so kind to honour dear Milly-Rose and her brave family. Best wishes to them all. RIP Milly-Rose
Beautiful piece for a beautiful Blue angel 💙
Thoughts, prayers and fish fingers to the family and friends 🙏