THE spirit of brave young Isis Naomi Shaw will live on through a school trophy to be awarded in her memory.

When Isis died last Christmas morning, having succumbed to the effects of cystic fibrosis which she had courageously fought throughout her 12 short but full years, she left this world having made a lasting impression.

"She was a tremendously brave little girl," said her mum, Dawn, a retired nurse.

"But the end of her life was as beautiful as her coming into this world."

Showing a maturity and a grasp of life far beyond her years, the Leigh girl had prepared herself.

Isis's father, Mark, recalled how the deep-thinking girl who loved a laugh was just hours from death when she told her gran: "In future when you make that lobby don't put that skin on top."

Her mum said: "She was buried in a Ferrari red coffin. It was Isis's party, she had made the arrangements and she was surrounded by friends. And each of those friends departed from the funeral with a gift -- they were each given one of the hundreds of beanie toys Isis collected."

"She was born on December 5, 1991 at 4.19am at Warrington Hospital and she died at exactly 4.19am on Christmas morning."

Named after the Egyptian goddess Isis, she was fascinated by Egyptian culture.

And on July 16 The Isis Shaw Trophy and medal will be presented in her memory to a chosen pupil at Gilded Hollins School where Isis spent many happy years. The one foot high brass cat will be awarded annually in her memory to a youngster who shows special qualities.

Head teacher at GiIded Hollins Mr Stan Higginson said: "Isis was a girl who always smiled, despite all her medication and weeks in hospital she always found time to laugh.

"She always had a tale to tell or something to show you. She loved cats and art, nature and drawing, bright colours and cuddly toys and anything Egyptian. Isis loved life and lived it to the full.

"This young lady had wisdom beyond her years. She had a deep belief in what would be and she always possessed a wonderful spirituality. I feel very privileged to have taught and known Isis. The Isis Shaw Trophy will be presented to someone who has been brave, faced some kind of adversity or to someone who has brought joy and happiness to the school. Someone who smiles."