POP star Kylie Minogue sent a tear-jerking response to twin sisters the day before they lost their mother to a brain tumour.
Father Lee Cripps posted a video of his daughters Lauren and Sophie singing 'Dancing' and Minogue responded the same day.
He tweeted: "Our girls singing to their mummy, the day before she died.
"Alex died on 10th Jan 2019. Really want @kylieminogue to see this, to see how much her music means to us as a family and I would love for our girls to meet her.
"Please RT in the hope it reaches her."
Our girls singing to their mummy, the day before she died. Alex died on 10th Jan 2019. Really want @kylieminogue to see this, to see how much her music means to us as a family and I would love for our girls to meet her. Please RT in the hope it reaches her. @BrainTumourOrg pic.twitter.com/8hckyH4UNm
— Lee Cripps (@CocoPops) February 26, 2019
The video has since been viewed more than 53,000 times and Mr Cripps, 40, from Thatcham, was delighted to get a response.
Minogue responded: "Lee, thank you for sharing this tender moment of your girls singing to Alex.
"I’m so touched and so very sorry for your loss. Sending you and your girls lots of love."
The mother fell unconscious overnight and she had a CT scan, which revealed a large tumour.
She was immediately transferred from Royal Berkshire Hospital to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Alex had a five-hour operation to remove as much of the tumour as possible and was put in an induced coma for three days before more surgery was needed.
Lee, thank you for sharing this tender moment of your girls singing to Alex. I’m so touched and so very sorry for your loss. Sending you and your girls lots of love. 💖
— Kylie Minogue (@kylieminogue) February 26, 2019
Tests revealed it was a cancerous anaplastic astrocytoma and Alex had three more brain surgeries, as well as several courses of chemotherapy.
She died on January 10 after a five-year battle and her family have started the Alex Cripps Fund in her memory, with help from The Brain Tumour Charity, which has raised more than £20,500.
Mr Cripps sent a message back to the singer, adding: "Thank you for your lovely reply Kylie!
"I showed the girls this morning, their first question was “wow, do you know Kylie”.
"I kindly told them that no, but I’d like to! Explained the power of Twitter and some of the other lovely replies we’ve had."
Sarah Lindsell, chief executive at The Brain Tumour Charity, said: "Our hearts go out to Lee, Sophie and Lauren for losing Alex to this devastating disease – brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and under-40s in the UK.
"We are so grateful that the family have raised over £20,500 for us – a testament to how loved Alex was - as research into brain tumours is woefully under-funded.
With 10days to go until my wife’s funeral, I am proud to say we’ve raised nearly £17k in her name for the fight against brain tumours. @BrainTumourOrg The fight can’t stop! We must find a cure. Alex passed away on 10th Jan after nearly 5yr fighting https://t.co/vphdZDHbeu
— Lee Cripps (@CocoPops) January 23, 2019
"We are very grateful that Lee is sharing their story during Brain Tumour Awareness Month to support our Big Bandana Bake campaign to raise money and awareness as we move closer towards the goals of our research strategy, A Cure Can't Wait, to double survival in 10 years and halve the harm brain tumours have on quality of life."
Click here if you would like to make a donation to the Alex Cripps Fund.
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