Last updated at 10:45, Tuesday, 15 January 2013

THOUSANDS of heartfelt tributes have been paid to inspirational teenager Alice Pyne who has lost her battle with cancer.

• Related article: Ulverston girl Alice Pyne inspired thousands to join bone marrow register
• Related article: I will dedicate my life to continuing Alice’s work
• Related article: Ulverston sisters Alice and Milly Pyne shared a special connection

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Her mother, Vicky Pyne, made the announcement to Alice’s thousands of Facebook friends and Twitter followers at 11.35pm on Saturday, writing: “Our darling girl, Alice, gained her angel wings today. She passed away peacefully with Simon, Milly and myself by her side.

“We are devastated and know that our lives will never be the same again.”

The Ulverston girl attracted a huge global following through her ‘Alice’s Bucket List’ blog. People across the world were heartened that, despite being terminal ill and fighting Hodgkin’s Lymphoma for more than five years, her greatest wish was to help and make a difference for others.

She achieved her dreams, such as meeting Take That and going whale watching, but her bucket list priority was to get eligible people to sign up for the bone marrow register – and she inspired thousands.

Alice completed the achievable aspects of her bucket list, which included; going to her school leavers’ prom, to get to the Royal Garden party in May, to design an Emma Bridgewater mug to sell for charity, to stay in the Chocolate Room at Alton Towers, to swim with sharks, to enter her dog Mabel in a Labrador show, to have a photo shoot with Milly, Clarissa, Sammie and Megs, to have a private cinema party for her and her best friends, to go to Kenya (she got to go to Kent-ya), to stay in a caravan, to have a purple Apple ipad, to have a nice picture taken with Mabel, to have her hair done , to have a back massage, to buy a static caravan for the charity and to actually receive her British Empire Medal.

As well as continuing to get people to sign the bone marrow register, Alice also encouraged everyone to have their own bucket list.

More than 4.5 million people alone have viewed her blog. She also had a major following on her Facebook and Twitter pages.

People across the generations have been motivated by Alice’s zest for life and her “One life ... live it!” motto.

Alice and her sister Milly raised hundreds of thousands of pounds to help charities.

Through her campaigning Alice also had a huge impact in the move to allow 16-year-olds to sign up to the bone marrow register.

Last year Alice proudly set up her own charity, Alice’s Escapes, to offer seriously ill children holidays in the Lakes. She was delighted that charity challenges and fundraising events raised enough money for the charity to buy its own caravan.

In September Alice and her sister became two of the youngest recipients of the British Empire Medal, and then in October Alice received the Pride of Britain Award for Teenager of Courage.

Alice’s final tweet was on Wednesday saying “On my way to London :)”.

The day before she tweeted: “Hello it’s me I’m awake and actually feel quite good! Have had a good day. Cathy and Simon bought me a cake...”

Simon and Cathy Broomfield, who are trustees of Alice’s Escapes, said: “We were immensely proud to have made one of Alice’s bucket list wishes come true: to show her dog Mabel in a dog show.

“Alice has inspired us to take on challenges that we would have never otherwise considered and we will make sure that the legacy that she has left will continue forever.”

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said: “Alice was an inspiration to us all; she showed us how to live and I am proud to have known her and called her my friend.

“While long expected, it is devastating she has gone and my heart goes out to her parents Vicky and Simon and her sister Milly, who filled her life with love and helped her achieve her dreams.

“She leaves behind thousands touched by her amazing spirit who will keep her memory alive and work to advance the causes she championed.”

Comedian David Walliams, who had surprised Alice at London Zoo with the news of her Pride of Britain Award, tweeted : “I am so sad about the passing of @Alice_Pyne, who I met through the Pride of Britain Awards. What a beautiful and courageous girl. x”

TV presenter Phillip Schofield also paid tribute on Twitter, saying: “I’m so very sad to hear that lovely @Alice_Pyne has passed away. Lots of love to mum Vicky, dad Simon and sister Milly.”

First published at 16:09, Monday, 14 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk