Simon Cowell Simon Cowell He may be tough and blunt when it comes to The X Factor contestants, but Simon Cowell is also a bit of a softie.

After being moved by the plight of 18-month-old Sophie Atay, he generously donated £100,000 to help save her life.

The baby, who is suffering from a rare form of cancer, needed the money to fly to the US for pioneering treatment.

Her family launched an appeal to raise the £500,000 needed for the urgent treatment, but even with generous donations from people all over the country, they were still short of £100,000.

That is until Simon stepped in to share his wealth.

But it isn't only Simon that Sophie's family have to thank.

Last year’s X Factor winner, Alexandra Burke, said: "I’d told Simon about the situation and that there was no time to waste because Sophie needs the treatment immediately, and he decided to give her the money in a second.

"Now we’re hopeful Sophie will be on the flight to the US today."

After Alexandra broke the news to Sophie's mum, Karine, she told the Daily Mail: "Karine didn’t know what I was going to tell her when I called her. So when I broke the news, we were both crying - but I was crying more."

So it just goes to show you, Simon's tough-man routine is all a bit of an act.

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