Dip keep’s East Preston girl’s dreams afloat

Friends and family of Iona-May Thorne, five, traded their warm winter coats for swimming costumes during the annual Boxing Day dip, in the sea off Worthing.

The fearless five-some, made up of Vicki Thorne, Andrea Thorne, Sam Barnes, Sarah Nolan and Mark Howard, managed to raise an impressive £700 during the plunge.

Iona-May’s loving mum, Vicki, who took part in the fund-raising dip, said: “It was actually quite fun. The atmosphere was really great.

“It was pretty cold but was totally worth it. We thought we would raise £100 or so. We never thought that our five minutes of madness would help to raise £700. We were amazed at how people got behind us.”

Iona-May’s contingent followed in the wake of dozens of other Boxing Day dippers at the festive event.

The family’s latest drive to help Iona-May, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, has now passed the halfway mark of £30,000.

Vicki hopes that, with more support from the public, the family will be able to make the life-changing adaptations to their East Preston home, for Iona-May.

To find out how to support Iona-May, or to make a donation, go to www.helpionamay.com or e-mail [email protected]