Family's fundraising diamond tribute to tragic Ava

Ava Milne (29) lost her life in an early morning road accident in Tain, Ross-shire a year ago.

Now members of her family who live in Kirkintilloch and Tain, want to respect Ava’s wishes by transforming her ashes into a diamond. They also plan to make donations to her two favourite charities. Their crowdfunding appeal marks the first anniversary of her death.

Ava’s sister-in-law told her local newspaper the young woman had mentioned just two weeks before her death that she would like her ashes to be transformed into a diamond.

Her family plan to set the diamond into a ring for Ava’s mother, Jane Mutter, so her daughter will always be with her.

Jane, who lives in Tain, is also planning an epic challenge of her own to add to the fundraising amount. She is looking to climb 29 Munros – one for every year of Ava’s life – and hopes to finish in Stirling, where her daughter was born.

Ava’s brother Peter Milne plans to do his share of fundraising by cycling the 96 miles of the West Highland Way in just three days. It is hoped that his brother Luke Milne will join him.

Their donation page, which has a £3000 target, has already attracted £1,200 worth of pledges and one contributor wrote: “Love you Ava, you were a beautiful person inside and out and you deserve to have your wish come true and shine bright as a diamond.”

Alana explained that Ava’s sudden death, just so soon after she settled in to her own home, was heartbreaking for everyone who knew her and their fundraising effort is a positive way of honouring her memory.

Alana said: “What happened was just so strange, Ava came to her mum’s house about three weeks before she passed away and said she had heard about ashes being used to make diamonds, and she said she wanted to be turned into a diamond.

“Ava was always very passionate about charity, and always used to donate to the local donkey sanctuary and the charity Knit for Nature. She always supported these charities and causes for kids.

“We want to raise enough to cover the cost of the diamond and we also want to give donations to the sanctuary and Knit for Nature, as she was always very passionate about them.”

She explained that Ava’s ashes will be sent to England to undergo a carbon process to create a diamond.

“We want her mother Jane to have it, I think we will set it in a ring for her. She is just so distraught, as is all the family, and we think it will be amazing for her to have Ava with her all the time.”

To donate to the justgiving page visit https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com:443/Avamilne and for info and updates click on the Facebook page @avamilnewish