Rangers has paid tribute to a "brave" young girl after she died following a brave battle with cancer. Bonnie Spence, six, passed away on July 29 with mum Zoey, stepmum Caroline, dad Iain and siblings by her side.
Remembered for her bravery
She has been remembered by the Rangers Charity Foundation for her "bravery and strength". Bonnie was a guest at last year's Dream Day and the Dream Fund Children's Christmas party, as well as being a mascot. Rangers and the club's charity foundation passed their condolences to Bonnie's family and friends, sharing special pictures of her and her dad Iain - who is a massive Gers fan - as they posed alongside first team players at an event last year.
Last week, her heartbroken stepmum Caroline Spence told ChronicleLive: "She was the happiest little girl, it's just not fair". Bonnie, from Consett in County Durham, was diagnosed with stage four Rhabdoid Sarcoma shortly after her fifth birthday in 2024.
Fulfilling a wish list
Earlier this year, Caroline and Iain launched a GoFundMe to "fit 18 years of childhood into Bonnie's life in a year." That enabled the family to take Bonnie on a trip to Disneyland with her siblings, and get her a Shiba Inu puppy named Hana. In her final days, the family managed to make memories that they will treasure forever. Caroline said: "We went to Tynemouth and managed to take her for fish and chips and ice cream, and we went to Spanish City.
"We squeezed a trip to the Metrocentre in last week too. At home, she loved her little ukulele that she got at Hexham Car Boot fair, she used to strum it all the time in the living room." Caroline said Bonnie was smiling till the end, and wanted to watch her favourite Disney princess Ariel, from the Little Mermaid, as she fell asleep for the final time.
Foundation's tribute
On August 3, the Rangers Charity Foundation said: "We were very sorry to learn of the passing of Bonnie Spence last week. Bonnie was one of the guests at our Dream Day in November of last year as well as the Dream Fund Children's Christmas party. Bonnie showed incredible bravery and strength in the most difficult of circumstances. On behalf of everyone at the Rangers Charity Foundation and Rangers FC, we would like to pass on our most sincere condolences to Bonnie's family and friends."
Fellow Rangers fans who are involved in the charity remembered Bonnie as a "bundle of energy", with hundreds of messages of support pouring in for her heartbroken family.
