Dying 15-year-old's bucket list becomes internet hit

The bucket list of a 15-year-old English girl who is suffering from terminal cancer has become an internet hit in only three days.

Alice Pyne's blog, which lists the things which she wants to do before she "kicks the bucket", was started on Tuesday, but has already sparked a massive response.

So far Alice, who lives in Ulverston in Cumbria, has 17 things on her bucket list, including meeting pop band 'Take That' - which she will do this weekend, staying in a caravan, and entering her dog in a competition.

Top of the list, however, is for everyone to sign up to be a bone marrow donor.

Alice has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma and may have only weeks to live.

Her efforts were helped when her local MP, John Woodcock, raised the issue of bone marrow donations and Alice's bucket list in Britain's Parliament.

"After four years, 15-year-old Alice Pyne in my constituency is losing her battle against cancer," Mr Woodcock, Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, told Prime Minister David Cameron at question time, The Guardian reported.

Mr Cameron agreed to work with the opposition to address the lack of bone marrow donors in the country.

On Twitter, #alicebucketlist trended around the world, including in New Zealand yesterday.

Alice herself has been amazed by the response, but has asked people not to donate money to her, rather she has posted links to charities she said deserved the money.

"Thank you so much for all your lovely messages to me," she wrote on her blog. "I don't sleep very well and I sat up all night reading them as they came in from all over the planet, every single one, and they have made me smile so much so that is a good thing."

- NZ Herald staff