Brewery Tap fundraiser honours Ellie Butterfield in Norwich

Amber Cleveland, met Ellie Butterfield online in 2017 and they swiftly became best friends after meeting in real life in 2019.

However, Ellie had began suffering from double vision at 11 years old and was diagnosed with a grade three ependymoma after a hospital referral by her optician.

An ependymoma is a tumour which can begin in the brain or spinal cord.

Despite multiple surgeries and therapies, Ellie, from Hertfordshire, died in January 2021 - just one week before her 16th birthday.

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Amber, 19, said: "We clicked straight away, it was brilliant - like it was meant to be.

"Ellie was the best friend I could've ever asked for.

Amber Cleveland, pictured left, with her best friend Ellie Butterfield, who died in January 2021 (Image: Brain Tumour Research)
"I’ve got four brothers so she was like the sister I never had, so bright and bubbly, even while horribly sick.

"She never let her tumour get the better of her, staying active with her love of horse riding and photography.

"She was so full of character - probably more than anyone I have, or will ever, meet."

Ellie Butterfield, pictured with her mum and dad, died in January 2021, a week before her 16th birthday (Image: Brain Tumour Research)
Amber and her friends held a fundraiser at The Brewery Tap in NR3 on Tuesday.

The night – in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research – featured a raffle, tombola, prizes for the best fancy dress, stalls and a pub quiz.

Amber has also set up a JustGiving page in her friend's memory.

The fundraiser at The Brewery Tap had a raffle, tombola, prizes for the best fancy dress, stalls and a pub quiz (Image: Brain Tumour Research)
Amber, who has met others affected by brain tumours since Ellie died, said: "We decided to do something special in Ellie’s memory.

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"The quiz questions were based on things she loved, like her favourite TV shows, music and cars.

Amber said Ellie, pictured, was the best friend I could have ever asked for (Image: Brain Tumour Research)
"She also absolutely loved Halloween so doing it then made sense.

"Ellie never got to live the life she deserved and there are so many other young people not getting the chance they deserve because of the lack of investment in brain tumour research.

"It’s just not fair."

The fundraiser at The Brewery Tap was held on October 31 (Image: Brain Tumour Research)