100 gather for woodland fairy walk in memory of 'Tinker Bell' Laura
More than 100 friends and family members of a teenager killed by a trucker who was looking at pornography while driving will take part in a charity walk in her memory tomorrow.
Wearing pink and fairy wings, those close to 20-year-old Laura Thomas will walk 5km around Cannock Chase to raise money for charity.
The teaching assistant died in July last year when her broken down car was struck by a lorry driven by Ian Glover, 44, of Birmingham, who was looking at pictures of women on an explicit dating site while driving.
Her mother Lisa, of Hunters Close, Great Haywood, said: "Everybody in the village has been completely shocked and wanted to do something. That's where the sponsored walk came from.
"She loved Tinker Bell and loved Disney. She went to a fancy dress party as Tinker Bell, that was where the fairies came about. Laura did two charity walks when she was in the sixth form and I wanted to incorporate what she did."
The 5k walk starts at Fairy Wood, Birches Valley, Rugeley, at 2pm on Sunday.
Mrs Thomas added: "I just want it to be something everyone will enjoy. I wanted to do something for Laura's memory so everybody feels they are doing something for her.
"We want to keep Laura's sparkle alive. I'm trying to do something positive for her. We have lots of support because everybody knew her. Hopefully we can raise lots of funds."
Proceeds will go to Midlands Air Ambulance, Marshlands Special School, where Laura worked as a teaching assistant and Riding for the Disabled in Ingestre where she volunteered.
Miss Thomas was standing behind a safety barrier on the A5 between Telford and Shrewsbury in Shropshire with her fiancé Lewis Anthony Pagett, 19, of Rugeley, when they were struck by their broken down car after it was hit by Glover.
Mr Pagett was also seriously injured.
Glover was jailed for five years.
