Family’s safety charity in memory of Blossom
THE family of a four-year-old girl with “a heart of gold” who tragically died in a swimming pool accident have set up a water safety charity in her name.
Skelmersdale tot Blossom Iris Kelly lost her life in a drowning accident while on a family holiday in Spain last year.
She died in hospital after battling for life for days.
Her parents, Vicky and Kris Kelly, who have another daughter, Darcy, seven, and son, Hudson, three, have now set up Blossom’s Legacy to help reduce childhood drowning and prevent other families from suffering the same pain and loss.
The charity aims to do this by promoting water safety, offering CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training, and putting into action sustainable water survival and swim projects.
After already raising hundreds of pounds online through JustGiving, the charity will be officially launched at a ceremony at St Francis of Assisi Primary School at 4.30pm tomorrow, Friday, June 16.
Kris’s cousin, Sophie Cliff, a trustee of the charity, said: “We lost Blossom in a tragic accident while we were away on holiday and as a family we decided to try to make something positive from it.
“She was a very free-spirited little girl, very mischievous and always so much fun.
“She had a heart of gold and her nursery teacher said she was always quick to help the other children if they needed it.”
The first activities to be carried out by the charity will include free CPR classes for members of the community and water safety training for reception pupils at St Francis - the class Blossom would have gone into.
Mum Vicky added: “We are really hoping that Blossom’s Legacy will help us to create something positive out of the most tragic circumstances.
“We are passionate about making a difference and improving water safety for all.
“If we can prevent one family from going through the heartache that we have then losing Blossom hasn’t been in vain.”