ASHLEY Cain said daughter Azaylia’s death has left him and girlfriend Safiyya “crushed” as they plan for her funeral.
The devastated dad also wrote in an emotional Instagram post that his life would never be the same again after Azaylia lost her cancer battle.
He has been doing his best to keep upbeat by running and cycling long distances but his mind always comes back to the loss of his little girl.
“Me and Safiyya have been doing our very best to stay strong,” he wrote. “But it’s impossible at times. We’ve just had to search through all of our pictures and videos to choose which ones to play on Azaylia’s day.
“It has left us crushed at the reality of what has happened. I live at the moment with constant pain in my head, aching in my chest and anxiousness in my belly.
“The world seems grey through my eyes. The only colour I see is an orange sky when we’re blessed enough to have it. A laugh isn’t a laugh, a smile is not a smile and my life is just not the same. It never will be again.
“I try my hardest to get up and run, bike and occupy my mind. But I am just sad. So sad. I miss you so much Azaylia.”
Last night Ashley revealed details of Azaylia’s “final journey” ahead of her funeral and invited people to line the streets to pay their respects.
He took to Instagram to share his appreciation for the support he and his family have received.
He wrote: “We would like to thank everyone for their prayers, words of sympathy & patience over the last few weeks, while we come to terms with the loss of Azaylia.
“We have been incredibly moved by the support we have received far and wide and all the beautiful gesture of kindness will live in hearts forever.”
The grieving dad said he has spoken to Warwickshire Police to determine the safest way of allowing the people of his hometown Nuneaton to pay their respects ahead of a private ceremony attended by the family.
He said: “We would be touched and honored to see as many of those that wish, pay their respects to Azaylia by lining the streets somewhere along the route the cortege will proceed through.
“We respectfully ask all attending Azaylia’s final journey to adhere to the current Covid legislation, to maintain social distancing and to keep within your family bubbles, this will ensure everyone is safe and following the rules that are set out.
“As truly difficult as the day will be, we are going to give it our all to keep Azaylia’s day an uplifting day of remembrance for her life and encourage anyone attending to show their love by clapping and making joyous noise of celebration as the cortege goes by!
“We would love to make her final journey a special one as she watches from heaven. LETS GO CHAMP! .”
Ashley Cain shared the details of his daughter Azaylia’s cortège and funeral on Instagram tonight.
He wrote: “Funeral to take place on Friday 21st May 2021. The cortège will be leaving Croft road at approximately 10.00am, making it’s way through the designated route and ending in Avenue Road (by the Pingles) at approximately 10.45am.
“We request that you stand somewhere suitable at some point during this route.”
The route the cortege will be taking is along:
Croft Road – CV10 7DP (small car park by Tesco’s if required)
Into Queens Road – CV11 5LD
Roanne Ring Way – (Parking in Town Centre, Abbey Street CV11 5NE)
Right into Coton Road (Parking in Riversley Park CV11 5TY)
And left into Avenue Road (parking at Pingles Leisure CV11 4TX)
Last week Ashley opened up about the agony of planning Azaylia’s funeral, saying: “It has brought me to my knees”.
The 30-year-old star and his girlfriend Safiyya tragically lost their little girl last month after a brave battle with leukaemia.
Ashley took to Instagram to reveal that they had started to make funeral plans for Azaylia, but some days it “breaks him” and he’s unable to proceed.
He wrote: “I always dreaded the first time I’d have to plan a funeral. But I never, ever thought it would be my child’s funeral.
“Nothing could ever have prepared me for this. Some days it breaks me and I can’t even bare to do it.
“I always thought I was tough, but making decisions on how I’m going to bury my baby is enough to bring me to my knees every single time.”
He added: “It’s hard to make sense of anything right now, especially why did it have to happen this way!”
Safiyya also said she was trying to be as brave as little Azaylia was as she battled the unbearable pain.
Sharing a photo of herself in her pyjamas, the devoted mum penned: “Wearing my rainbow pyjamas for you Azaylia.
“My days are so empty without you, whenever I think of you I ache from head to toe as I miss you so much.
“I get the biggest lump in my throat and I just want to fall to my knees and cry.
“But then I think what would Azaylia do? She would be brave, so I hear in my head: ‘Mummy, stay strong, be brave just like me’.”
She later added: “I look up to the sky every day, I realise the beauty in the sky like never before. I see the beautiful things you draw and create for me.”
