THE parents of a schoolgirl who died from asthma said they were overwhelmed with mixed emotions at a fun day in memory of their ‘little angel’.

The Chandler family beamed with pride yesterday as hundreds of people flocked to The Rye to take part in fun and games to raise money and awareness for charity Asthma UK.

But the event – in tribute to their daughter Olivia, who died aged eight after an asthma attack at school in 2010 – was one they wished they never had to organise.

Dad Darren said: “It’s mixed feelings, obviously losing my daughter and others who have lost children to asthma but the good thing is everyone has come together, I couldn’t ask for any more, this is brilliant.

“I didn’t think so many people would come down, nowhere near, I hoped they would, but I could never expect this.

“The work Asthma UK does is incredible, they helped us out so much, I couldn’t ask for any more – and the same for our friends.”

They say out of the darkness comes the light, and Darren’s wife Teresa is heavily pregnant with the couple’s fourth child.

Darren added: “It was obviously a terrible thing that happened to us but we always said we’d have four children, so hopefully it’s a happy ending to a sad story.”

At Saturday’s four hour fun day was a host of community group stalls, inflatable games for children, martial art demonstrations, refreshments and live performances from dance troupes.

Asthma UK also had a stall at the event, with volunteers answering questions and handing out leaflets about the condition.

To find out more or to donate to the charity, visit www.asthma.org.uk/