They founded the Azaylia Foundation, which supports families fundraising for treatments not readily available on the NHS, and provides children with memorable experiences as they fight cancer. Two years on, the grief of losing his ‘little lion' daughter, who was given chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant before succumbing to the disease, has not dimmed. He admits that writing about his “Billy Big Banana” days for his new book, Strong, was tough. Ashley, who played for Coventry City from 2008-2010 left football in 2012 after he ruptured his Achilles tendon. He went on to appear on reality shows like MTV’s Ex On The Beach and Take Me Out.

Ashley posted: "Rest in paradise princess. I will always hold you in my heart until I can hold you again in heaven." He’s still friendly with Safiyya – they split a year after Azaylia’s death. “Saf gave me the greatest gift I’ve ever had. We’ve built a bond that is unbreakable because of what we’ve been through together. I isolate myself a lot with the extreme challenges that I do, so I spend a lot of time thinking about Azaylia and connecting with her.ASHLEY Cain and Safiyya Vorajee have split a year after the heartbreaking death of their daughter Azaylia. Through The Azaylia Foundation, the couple say they also want to raise awareness of the signs of childhood cancer. First fundraiser

So we want to actively, every single month, give a set amount to help them reach their goal, so that families can feel supported. As crazy as it sounds, if that had to be her destiny, at least she went in peace and she went over to the other side and gained her angel wings in the arms of her parents." It was news that broke hearts across the world - that the brave eight-month-old had lost her brave battle and had sadly passed away. He also enjoyed all the trappings that came with that – girls, nightclubs, fame and the thought that he had “made it”. You have this little innocent, beautiful baby, then you find out she has got tumours in her spleen, stomach, lungs and in her kidneys and the doctors telling us she would not make it on the first round of chemotherapy.Despite still coming to terms with their unimaginable grief her parents set up a charity Azaylia Foundation as a legacy to her. We didn't just want to put out our hands and ask for money - we wanted to show a fraction of the strength they have." They shared what were the final moments with their brave daughter, who had battled cancer since she was just eight weeks old.

He goes on: "And brother, I am so sorry to hear this news, but I don't have to tell you that your daughter's strength is what strengthens you and all her loved ones around her. And in that, she has already has had this incredible impact on the world already. Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee spoke during an emotional interview to help launch The Azaylia Foundation. The charity the couple say has given them a purpose since they lost their little girl to acute myeloid leukaemia.But the determined dad of the eight-month-old, who had a rare form of leukaemia, said he remained positive and believed in the strength of his daughter. Ashley Cain was, as he puts it, a Billy Big Bananas enjoying the playboy lifestyle – until the loss of his daughter changed everything. Azaylia died from acute leukaemia aged eight months in April 2021.