Gymnasts in t-shirt tribute to tragic pal
MEMBERS of Rochdale Olympic Gymnastic Club wore special t-shirts at a recent competition to remember their close friend who tragically died a year ago.
Marianne Haboc, 11, a talented gymnast and part of the club, died when she was struck by a Range Rover while walking on a pavement with friends on her way home from school.
Last week her parents, who are still heavily involved in the club, wrote a public letter to their only daughter on the anniversary of her death.
Writing that Marianne was “not forgotten and will never be”, her parents, William and Joanne, revealed that awards have been set up in Marianne’s memory at the gymnastics club, along with her school, St Patrick’s primary, and William’s home country of the Philippines.
A group of 22 young gymnasts represented the team in Durham and while they were completing their warm up, the girls all sported specially-printed pink shirts with the club name and logo, their name and a photograph of Marianne.
Three Whitworth Community High School students were involved in the competition – Martel, 13, Hannah Pratt, 12, and Millie Nuttall, 11.
Martel said: “We all wore white scrunchies and bobbles in our hair for Marianne, just as we have done in every competition since it happened.
“It is important for us to remember Marianne to keep her memory alive.”
Martel finished second on the bars and eighth out of the 40 gymnasts involved, as their team finished first overall.
Club members Martha Smith was also second overall and Jess Lees was fifth.
The club members will next compete in Newcastle in late October for a Spooky Spectacular gymnastics competition.