PARENTS have paid tribute to their daughter who had achieved so much and made so many people smile before her tragic death to cancer, aged just 35.

PARENTS have paid tribute to their daughter who had achieved so much and made so many people smile before her tragic death to cancer, aged just 35.

Rebecca Wright, from Drinkstone near Stowmarket, had Down's Syndrome and in her short life had won a string of medals and gone on to represent Great Britain in the Special Olympics at table tennis against France and the Czech Republic

The young woman, known as a delightful character by those who met her, had also raised more than £2,000 for Mencap during a tandem freefall skydive when she leapt out of a light aircraft at 10,000 feet. She had won a national award for her painting, with her artwork featured on a charity Christmas cards.

Her mother Sue Wright, a retired teacher, said: “Rebecca's first smile was magical, it lit up her little face. I'm told it could fill a room with sunshine, brighten a day, and make someone walk six feet tall.

“Her smile is something we will always remember. She brought us so much, taught us more than she could ever know and made her brothers the lovely caring men they are. Chris and I are so proud of all our three children.”

Chris Wright, a retired civil engineer, said the family have been touched by more than 400 letters and tributes to Rebecca that they have received from family and her friends.

He said: “She was a very generous lady, incredibly warm, and very determined, she would never give up. She was also quite a good artist and won a national competition with Mencap with her water colour Guiding Star, which featured on their Christmas cards during 2005.”

Miss Wright was born in Rochford, Essex, and grew up in Preston, Lancashire and Danbury in Essex. She attended the Hayward School in Chelmsford, studying for NVQs, and went onto Epping Forest College, Loughton, for three years, taking general studies.

She would complete Duke of Edinburgh bronze, silver and gold awards, be a member of both the Stowmarket table tennis club and the England learning disability squad for the sport, and ski from the age of 12. She loved riding, travelling with her parents, particularly on cruises, and was an ardent Manchester United fan.

Miss Wright would undertake a variety of voluntary jobs with companies including garden nurseries and supermarkets, and worked for a time on a packaging line for a Suffolk company.

A recent service to celebrate her life at the parish church of All Saints in Drinkstone was absolutely packed as more than 300 people attended after her death on October 9.

Her parents have asked for donations in her memory to be made to L'Arche Ipswich, an international Christian organisation which creates communities for those with learning difficulties.

So far £2,500 has already been pledged and anyone who would like to make a donation in their daughter's memory should send cheques made payable to L'Arche Ipswich to: L'Arche Ipswich Community, 3 Warrington Road, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP1 3QU.