Fundraising effort for funeral and Disney trip
With his parents still reeling from their loss, friends Emily Russ and Charlotte Howden have rallied together to set up a JustGiving page to help with funeral costs and to raise money for a trip to Disneyland for the family.
Miss Bourne said: “Going to Disney was a dream of Riley’s, but we couldn’t afford it, so we thought we’d go some other time. We never thought we might not get the chance.
“We’d like to get the whole family out to pay tribute to him, and we’d take lanterns with us and get them signed by all his favourite characters before letting them off in his memory.”
Miss Russ said: “We’re just trying to show support because no one prepares themselves for this kind of thing.
“They had no chance to prepare themselves for what happened.”
Miss Russ knows Miss Bourne from their school days, where she was in the year above at Senacre Technology College.
Years later they attended the same baby group, which Miss Bourne went to with Riley.
Charlotte Howden, another member of the baby group, is helping take care of the couple’s other child, threemonth-old Roman.
She said: “Having to watch my best friend and her partner being told their fouryear-old son wasn’t going to make the night has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.
“Riley was a beautiful, selfless, considerate boy, and was loved by everyone that met him. He will be sorely missed.
“It’s really important that they can all spend time together without excess stress so they can all have the time off they need to bond and be together as a family, that’s the most important thing.”
In just three days, the page met its £5,000 target, but further donations are still welcome.
To donate, go to tinyurl. com/RileyKM