Cowell boosts cancer treatment bid

Simon Cowell has showed his softer side by donating money for a one-year-old girl to have cancer treatment in America.

The X Factor judge agreed to pay the remaining money for Sophie Atay to get medical care which will improve her chances of survival.

Singer Alexandra Burke rang her mother Karine Atay, who is from County Durham, to tell her the news.

She appealed for donations to raise £500,000 to fund the New York trip to treat Sophie's stage 4 neuroblastoma.

It is a rare cancer which affects children under five and develops from cells left behind from the youngster's development in the womb. The phone call featured a tearful Alex saying she was "completely touched" by the baby girl's battle.

She said: "It's completely touched me and I've spoken to Simon Cowell and he's going to put the rest of the money that you need towards it to give her the treatment."

Last year's X Factor winner went on: "I really hope that she's OK and that she's well and she can go over there and fight it."

Sophie's mother said she was "lost for words", and thanked everyone who had made donations. She said: "It's a horrible thing for a little baby to go through and that's why I'm trying to do what I'm trying to do.

Last week Simon became patron of Children's Hospices UK and visited patients at a hospice in Surrey.