An inspirational former headteacher who raised a six-figure sum for charity after being diagnosed with Parkinson's has died aged 70.
Vickie Cunnane passed away on November 30 after battling the disease for more than a decade.
Undeterred by her diagnosis, the former Corton VC Primary School headteacher raised more than £100,000 for Parkinson's UK, including through a number of skydives.
Her charity shop also became a pillar of the local community, initially opening in Langley Road, in Chedgrave, in 2017, before moving to larger premises a year later due to overwhelming support.
At the time, Mrs Cunnane said: "Even in my wildest dreams I wouldn't have thought this could happen."
Terry Cunnane, her husband of 42 years, said: "She was very good at using things around her and getting people involved.
"She could spot creative uses for whatever was there.
"In 2010 when she was diagnosed she wanted to do something which would grab people's attention.
"She hated heights and knew they did parachute jumps from Beccles, so decided to give it a try and she was able to inspire others at the school to join in too.
"She was always very good at getting people involved and being enthusiastic. That was just the sort of person she was."
Mr Cunnane hailed his wife's vision, particularly when the initial site went on the market.
He said: "She started small by doing tabletop stalls at farmers' markets but then she saw an opportunity when a small vacant shop became available.
"She decided to run a charity shop for Parkinson's UK which, as well as selling things to raise money, also offered people a cup of tea and somewhere to talk.
"It became a hub of the community, whether it was to do with Parkinson's or not."
The shop sells a wide range of items including, clothes, furniture, books and children’s toys, and provides a forum for people suffering from Parkinson’s to gain advice and information on living with the disease.
At the time of its opening, the shop was believed to be the only Parkinson's UK charity shop.
Mr Cunnane said: "It was excellent and so successful and she was thrilled by it.
"The shop really picked her up and kept her going.
"Her Parkinson's was very aggressive and took away a lot of her abilities very quickly, but she still loved going into the shop.
"Everyone loved to see her and she really gave people hope.
"I've talked to the shop's manager and we're going to keep it running in her memory."
Mrs Cunnane was headteacher at the Lowestoft area school for 16 years, with her husband saying the job "meant everything to her".
Mr Cunnane said: "She enjoyed her job very much and was always full of creative ideas.
"She was very focused on the children and meeting their needs.
"It was just everything to her. She loved it.
The mother-of-two also played a key role in setting up the League of Friends of the James Paget Hospital in 1983.
Speaking to this newspaper in 2018, Mrs Cunnane said: "When I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s I didn’t believe it was happening to me.
"It was really hard telling my husband, children and my mum.
"Having Parkinson’s is a whole new way of life.
"I decided to start raising money with the hope that a cure can be found and to improve the lives of people with Parkinson’s."
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