THE TRAGIC death of her best friend from a brain tumour when she was eight has prompted a little girl to go into the jewellery business for charity.

Twelve-year-old Harriet Bernard’s life was turned upside down when, in November 2013, her best friend Maisie Sullivan was diagnosed with a rare, inoperable brain tumour known as DIPG.

There is no cure and, as yet, a zero survival rate.

“She was my best friend and she died from cancer when she was 8,” said Harriet, who is from Nailsworth and met Maisie at Woodchester Primary School.

Now, four years on from Maisie’s death, Harriet has unleashed her entrepreneurial spirit to keep her best friend’s memory alive and raise some much needed cash to support other children who need that same hospice care.

The idea for her jewellery business came at her school, Wycliffe.

The school set a challenge - The Kirby Challenge - with the aim of doing something that pushes pupils but benefits others.

Harriet used her creative skills to start a jewellery business with beaded necklaces and fused glass jewellery, which Maisie loved.

“She’s been busy in the workshop,” said Harriet’s mum Kate.

“I’ve helped with the cold-working but she’s done the rest.

“She’s done a lot of work behind the scenes with spreadsheets and pricing and worked incredibly hard.”

All the profits of Harriet’s sales are going to the Maisie Sullivan Daisy Chain Fund at the Acorns Children’s Hospice in Worcester.

Maisie’s family say the hospice does “incredible work”.

“Maisie was a happy, kind, fun loving girl with a beautiful smile,” they said.

“Acorns Children’s Hospice provides vital care for life limited and life threatened children and support to their families.

“Had Acorns not been in our life it would have been a completely different story.

“The care they offered Maisie and support to the wider family to this day has helped us through an incredibly difficult time.

“Acorns depend largely on fundraising to enable them to support children and their families, many of the team giving their time voluntarily.”

To support Acorns work, Harriet will have a stall at Nailsworth Noel this Friday, November 30 from 4.30pm. Or see etsy.me/2T3SUv5