A family from Stonea is planning a tractor trip to raise money for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices in memory of their daughter Mikayla who died earlier this year.
Alyson and Neil Clark will set off on their journey from Lands End in a tractor, a New Holland T2. 100 donated by G & J Pecks Limited, on November 1.
The couple aim to travel 970 miles to John O’Groats in just five days. Neil is a farm manager for E.H. Morris (Stonea) Limited and the tractor trip will be in memory of their daughter as she loved to spend time on the farm with her dad.
Just days after her fourth birthday, Mikayla Clark was diagnosed with a brain stem tumour called a diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Mikayla’s family was told that there was no cure for her tumour and they began palliative treatment. Her condition improved enough for them to enjoy six months together before her death on April 12.
Throughout her illness and since her death Mikayla’s family have been supported by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
Alyson Clark said: “Mikayla always had a smile, she was a cheeky little girl who knew how to wrap her parents around her little finger - especially her daddy.
“Mikayla had a love for life and loved being outdoors, especially being out on the farm with daddy as his co-pilot.
“Even as she began to get more poorly, she never let her illness stop her doing what she wanted – she was a very determined little girl.
“If EACH wasn’t there I don’t know what we would have done as we really felt we couldn’t be at home when Mikayla passed, it would have been too much.”
At Mikayla’s funeral balloons were released with messages of love and Alyson and Neil plan to do the same when they complete their five-day drive.
To support Alyson and Neil on their sponsored tractor drive visit their Justgiving page: www.justgiving.com/Princess-Mikayla
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