Parents plan to use donated cash to help other families facing similar situation
Charlie Gard’s parents are to create a charity in his memory.
Chris Gard and Connie Yates raised £1.35 million in donations to pay for experimental treatment in the US but the courts prevented his parents being allowed to take the critically ill toddler abroad.
Charlie died on Friday after his parents dropped legal action.
They now want to use the money raised to help other parents whose children have similar conditions to the rare genetic disorder which Charlie had.
A family friend said: “Charlie’s passing will leave a huge void in their lives. They have been consumed by this for almost a year and have had very little time to think of anything else.
“Now Charlie has gone they are going to struggle to find some purpose in their lives. Everyone thinks that setting up the Charlie Gard Foundation will be fantastic for Connie.
“It will give her something to focus on and help to create a legacy for Charlie and mean that he didn’t die in vain.”
Charlie’s parents had wanted to take him back to their home in London for his final days but experts would not let him leave intensive care.
Instead, Charlie was transferred to a hospice where a High Court judge doctors could stop providing treatment.
The legal battle between his parents and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) over his care had attracted worldwide attention for months.
