TONIGHT The Evening Star has launched a memorial fund for little Stevie Mayes from Walton who died suddenly last week.To remember the eight-year-old girl, who loved school, the Star hopes to raise enough money so that Stevie's school friends at Causton Junior School in Maidstone Road, Felixstowe, and other children who will join the school in the coming years, will always remember her.

By JOANNE CONSTABLE

joanne.constable@eveningstar.co.uk

TONIGHT the Evening Star launches a memorial fund for little Stevie Mayes from Walton, who died suddenly last week.

To remember the eight-year-old girl, who loved school, the Star hopes to raise enough money so that Stevie's school friends at Causton Junior School in Maidstone Road, Felixstowe, and other children who will join the school in the coming years, will always remember her.

With the money raised from the community, the school can buy prizes to reward children for their efforts and special achievements through the next few years, and to celebrate the type of work that Stevie loved.

The Star has also teamed up with Causton Junior School to raise the cash needed to buy bright yellow roses and an engraved plaque which will be placed in the school's garden in remembrance of Stevie.

On Sunday, June 30, the bubbly young girl, who was full of life and adored by her parents, suddenly died.

Stevie, who would have been nine in less than a month, was described by her parents as their perfect bundle of joy.

She was put to rest today at St Mary's Church, Walton, where friends and family paid their last respects to the girl who will always be remembered by her mum Donna, dad Stevie and two brothers Daniel, 15, and Jason, 12, for her insatiable love of shopping and her bright wide smile.

Her parents described Stevie last week as a lovely, funny and sometimes silly girl.

"Her favourite pastime was going to town and getting dressed up and spending money with friends," said Mrs Mayes.

The eight-year-old, whose favourite colour was yellow, loved dressing up in her high heels and favourite flared trousers so that she could spend her five pounds pocket money in style in Felixstowe's town centre.

She would always bring something different back to the family home on Graham Road.

Mr and Mrs Mayes went to Causton Junior School on Monday, July 1, to speak to Stevie's school friends and tell them what had happened.

Stevie's brave mum wanted to go to the school and tell the children herself of Stevie's death because she did not want Paul Rooney, the head of Causton Junior, to have to answer the many questions to which he did not have the answers.

Mr and Mrs Mayes gave each child in Stevie's year four class a teddy bear or toy which belonged to their daughter to comfort them and to remember Stevie by.

Mr Rooney said: "She was a very popular little girl. We will all miss her greatly."

n To send money to The Evening Star's Stevie Mayes memorial fund, send your donations to Stevie Mayes Memorial Fund, Causton Junior School, Maidstone Road, Felixstowe. IP11 9ED. Cheques should be made payable to Causton Junior School.

If you want to organise a fund raising event, contact Joanne Constable at the Star's newsdesk in Felixstowe on 01394 284109 or e-mail: joanne.constable@eveningstar.co.uk