THE legacy of a teenager who battled terminal cancer and launched a charity to help the families of other seriously ill children is being remembered ten years since her tragic death.
Inspirational teen Alice Pyne died in January 2013 from terminal cancer.
The 17-year-old achieved more in her short life than most people managed in a lifetime, setting up Alice’s Escapes a year before her death.
Now run by her family, the charity provides bereavement breaks for those who have lost a child of any age and family escapes for seriously and terminally ill children.
Since 2013, the charity has continued to make Alice’s dream a reality and has helped more than 400 families from across the Furness community as well as all over the country.
Alice’s mum, Victoria Pennington-Pyne, said the charity has left her with a purpose to continue after her daughter’s death.
READ MORE: Alice's Escapes set up by the late Alice Pyne is set to receive huge donation
She said: “Alice’s heart was always set on helping others and her charity, Alice’s Escapes, based at Bardsea Leisure Park, has to be the thing she’d be most content about.
“To know that, to date, over 400 families have been helped is simply wonderful.
“I believe that the charity, which was set up by Alice herself, was her way of leaving me with a purpose to continue.”
Alice’s campaign to increase awareness of bone marrow registers was another feat achieved in her remarkable life.
Victoria said: “She managed to enrol over 60,000 to the register and, in turn, has indirectly saved many lives. I still receive emails and messages from people who have donated and saved a life which, they say, was only possible because they joined the register after responding to Alice’s plea.
“I think Alice lives on in the lives of many, not least the lives saved by her bone marrow donation appeals.”
Alice’s legacy will further live on through ‘Alice Fold’ street in Ulverston which was named after the teen following her death.
Victoria said: “I was blown away when SLDC contacted me and asked if they could name a street after Alice in her hometown of Ulverston. Alice Fold will be standing long after I’ve gone.”
READ MORE: Legacy of Ulverston teenager Alice Pyne bolstered by cash injection
In 2012, Alice and her sister, Milly were among the first people in 20 years to receive the British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to charity in the Queen's Birthday Honours list after it was scrapped in 1993. The sisters raised more than £100,000 for charity.
That same year, Alice received the Teenager of Courage Award from pop star Robbie Williams at the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards.
Despite ten years passing since her tragic death, Victoria said she can still clearly hear her daughter’s voice as if their last conversation was yesterday.
She said: “We were so close and she was always so concerned about how I’d cope without her, she spent her final months worrying about everyone else. After she’d gone, I found notes and cards, journals and little crafts that she’d left hidden - each envelope, each little thing, labelled and decorated with the greatest of attention to detail.
“She’d be 27 now and I have a constant what if, even after all this time. I wonder what she’d be like, what she’d be doing and what she’d look like.
“Alice and I were so similar - we shared a passion for crafting, sewing and photography. I have a crafting room in my home and it is full of Alice’s things - I love to be in there as it takes me back to the days we’d spend making Christmas cards, sewing clothes and designing silly outfits for the dogs.
“We loved the outdoors - camping, hiking and, most of all, we loved dogs. Mabel, Alice’s faithful yellow Labrador, Mabel, is almost thirteen and still going strong. Camping and walking, particularly in the mountains, makes me feel close to Alice.
“I can remember the day she was told she was terminal and I was so upset because she cried, which was quite rare for her. I was comforting her and telling her we’d get through it together and she turned and said, “I’m not upset for me, I’m just worried about leaving you and how you’ll cope.” That was so typical of Alice, she was an old soul and spent her life worrying about others.
“She was an amazing girl and I’ll always love and miss her.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel