Strong: Life, loss and eternal love for my daughter

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He never sought therapy after losing his daughter, finding some solace in physical challenges and also talking openly with family and friends. He believes before he had Azaylia he was lost, but now he has found himself. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each book will be donated to The Azaylia Foundation, the charity that Ashley and his ex-partner Saafiya set up to raise money to fight childhood cancer, in memory of their daughter, Azaylia Diamond Cain

But, in a heartbreaking on social media, Ashley announced the sad death of his daughter on April 25 last year. It led to tributes flooding in from across the world and there were also calls for her to be given a Pride of Britain award. Her funeral saw hundreds of people line the streets of their hometown, shouting 'lets go champ' and holding lion and orange balloons - all synonymous with the little girl. In the second year the wave of grief was different, but it hurt just as much. I understood that Azaylia wasn't here anymore, that she was in heaven and I was never going to see her again until the end of my journey. Ashley, who is based in the Midlands, continues: “Childhood cancer receives under three per cent of cancer research funding, which means no new talent is going into the space, no new research is being done, no new cures are being found. For me no child should go through what Azaylia went through. And I really don’t want any parents to feel what I feel.” We also want to make treatments that we would have had to fly to Singapore for, readily in the UK."It was hard but beautiful; child labour, the experience of going through that, it was just magical. Becoming a parent for the first time. That was that time to be a family." Not only was fatherhood the missing piece that made me feel complete, but that little girl allowed me to be the person I wanted to be.”

Strong is the moving and heartbreaking memoir from celebrity campaigner, endurance athlete, and father of an angel, Ashley Cain. Charting his daughter's birth and the fight for her life when she was diagnosed with leukaemia at 7 weeks old, Ashley reflects on his life and his own struggles since Azaylia's passing in 2021. Sadly, they were later told the treatment in Singapore would not be possible due to the complexity of Azalyia's case. We’re thankful to Safiyya and Ashley for sharing their family’s experiences so openly and eloquently at this difficult and emotional time for them. It was the latest landmark to turn orange; in her hometown of Nuneaton, two council buildings were lit-up orange all week. A lot of people in this world are struggling with mental health – they have low confidence, low self-esteem. I believe it's because a lot of people are not truthful and transparent with themselves and people around them.”They founded the Azaylia Foundation, which supports families fundraising for treatments not readily available on the NHS, and provides children with memorable experiences as they fight cancer. The couple gave some sobering statistics: one child in every school has cancer, there are 16 families every day getting used to the battle of cancer, and in the last 20 years there have only been three new treatments for children with cancer. His latest challenge, kayaking the Yukon 1000, is his riskiest yet. Billed as the world’s longest paddling race, entrants must complete the gruelling 1,000-mile course along the Yukon River, from Canada to the Arctic Circle, in 10 days

Ciara Lloyd, editorial director, acquired world rights from David Riding at MBA Literary Agents with Jim Erwood and Jason Brightman at Off Limits Entertainment.

Azaylia taught him to be the man he wanted to be, he says, but he can't see himself having another child. ASHLEY Cain and Safiyya Vorajee have split a year after the heartbreaking death of their daughter Azaylia. Carrying all their own food, clothes and shelter they will be on the water for an average of 18 hours a day. Her parents, ex-Coventry City football player Ashley Cain and Safiyya Vorajee were told that she would need stem cell treatment. As soon as my eyes set on her, she had the biggest smile - that carried me through the day. I used to open the blinds, walk over to her and say 'hey baby' and the smile on her face and the joy to see me in the morning: it could warm my heart for a lifetime.