A DEVOTED make-up artist’s mission to wash away the worries of sick children has lived on after her death.

Around 40 youngsters with life-limiting illnesses broke into their best dance moves as the Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars hit Uptown Funk belted out across the Brighton Dome yesterday.

The beaming performances were cheered on by family and friends at the end of a Memory Making Day, organised by Brighton-based charity Forward Facing.

Families, carers and volunteers spent the morning picking out the perfect outfit with the children before going through to hair and make-up and meeting with a choreographer for the finale performance.

It was the first year the event took place without founder Tasleen Carstairs, who died in May after battling cancer and a life of ill health.

Trustees and her partner John Philips vowed to keep the movement going as a tribute to her mission to bring happiness to children with debilitating conditions.

Mr Philips, 48, of Brighton, said: “It’s such a positive experience and it’s always a fantastic event. The children love dressing up and throwing themselves into the performance.

“They are forgetting for a time that they are ill and nobody knows they are underneath the costume and the make-up. They are just enjoying it all together.

“We felt it was important to keep it going in Tasleen’s memory and for the children. Everyone who had helped out before was happy to again – Tasleen was a very charismatic and influential kind of woman, and they all felt it was worthwhile.”

Tasleen, who died aged 49, was named Argus Local Hero and founded the charity in 2004 to help improve people’s confidence and self-esteem with make-up and costume.

Her training allowed her to help people with disfigurements, scars or burns, using make-up to give them the confidence to face the world again.

Mr Philips said she suffered from a condition known as Cushing before being diagnosed with cancer in December 2013.

He added: “She wanted to give something back to others and used her talents to help them. Any support anyone can offer us to carry on this great work would be much appreciated.”

Tasleen’s close friend Candice Conig volunteered with her daughter at yesterday’s event.

Enterprise Cars supported the event, charities CLIC Sargent and Forward Facing helped find children who would benefit from the event and a number of costumes were provided by the Disney store, Brighton.

Case study: Ella loves to dance

PLUCKY teenager Ella Peters loves to dance.

The 15-year-old’s Cerebral Palsy and severe epilepsy means she has been confined to a wheelchair for nearly all of her life after falling ill shortly after she was born.

Although she struggles to express herself verbally her excitement at going on stage was clear.

As her mother Andrea Heverin, of Lewes, began talking about the performance and one of Ella’s favourite songs Uptown Funk, she broke into a wide grin and began dancing in her chair – showing off the moves she had been practicing for the camera.

Mrs Heverin said: “One of the organisers told me about the event a few years ago and always rang me up beforehand to ask if Ella could come. “Unfortunately, until now, she has been too unwell to come along. The event always coincided with hospital appointments or Botox injections which she requires for her condition.

“So this was her first year and I’m so glad we could come. It is such a great event – it’s not about being ill or disabled – it’s just about having a great time. It’s lovely to see so many happy faces.”

She said Ella loves fashion, having her picture taken, going shopping, having coffee in cafés with her friends, and particularly having her hair and make-up prepared for the event. She picked out a black, shimmering top decorated with sparkles to wear for the performance – which was watched by her family, including her twin sister Grace.

Case study: Florrie's day as a princess

WITHIN a matter of days Florence Leppard went from being a happy, healthy toddler to being given just a five per cent chance of survival.

Nicknamed the ‘warrior princess,’ the three-year-old was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer in May after it was thought she had contracted chicken pox.

Her family – parents Kerry and John and sisters Daisy, six, and two-year-old Elsa – last month told The Argus of their relief her cancer was now in remission.

She celebrated by picking out a princess-come-fairy costume alongside her siblings and danced around the Brighton Dome ready for her big moment on stage.

Even though the tot still has to wear a tube in her nose she was full of life, which Mrs Leppard said was a joy to see.

She said: “It’s really important for the three sisters to be able to do what little girls do together. She and her sisters have been through so much in the last year. This is a great opportunity for them to have fun together.

“It’s just really nice to see them enjoying themselves and there are a great number of carers and volunteers which really helps the day go smoothly.”