Bike a fitting tribute to mum’s little angel Iona-May

A MOTHER, who is recovering after the death of her disabled daughter, is donating one of her little girl’s prized possessions to help other children with special needs.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Feb 2014, 07:00 BST
Vicki Thorne, centre, donates a £5,000 bike to the school her daughter Iona-May attended W05185H14Vicki Thorne, centre, donates a £5,000 bike to the school her daughter Iona-May attended W05185H14
Vicki Thorne, centre, donates a £5,000 bike to the school her daughter Iona-May attended W05185H14

Vicki Thorne, of Roundstone Drive, was left distraught when her ‘little angel’ Iona-May, seven, died suddenly, last October.

The youngster had suffered from quadriplegic cerebral palsy, which meant she was unable to walk.

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But in spite of her disability, Iona-May was still able to get around in her custom-built bike, which had a special chair for her to sit in.

It is this bike that mum Vicki has decided to donate to Iona-May’s former school, the Palatine Primary School, in Goring, in an effort to leave a lasting legacy of her daughter.

Vicki said: “What I want is for Iona-May’s friends and fellow pupils to have the opportunity to experience something they may not be able to outside of school.

“I can’t bare the thought of it going to waste, I know I could have given it to an individual but feel it’s best served helping more local children

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“The bike is worth around £5,000, so is not something that the school would usually be able to buy.”

She added: “The school did so much for Iona-May, and have supported me through some tough times and difficult decisions, so I feel this is the right choice.”

Vicki said that Iona-May loved to ride in the bike and described her little girl as ‘quite the speed demon’.

“She just loved the feeling of movement, the wind in her face and in fact she would cry when you stopped,” Vicki recounted.

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The bike was originally donated to the Thornes by the Make a Wish Foundation, more than a year ago.

Palatine has since welcomed the donation by Iona-May’s family.

Vicki now hopes the cycle could help Iona-May’s schoolmates when they need a few minutes to relax by allowing carers to give children rides outside.

The Thornes, who presented the bike to the school on Monday, are now looking for local businesses to get in touch and help purchase a shed to store the cycle in.

All those who would like to sponsor the school, can contact Vicki 07999 648647 or by emailing [email protected]

Alternatively, contact the Palatine school by calling 01903 242835