Cassie: free the love on the seafront

THE family and friends of travel agent Cassie Hayes will gather at one of her favourite Southport spots to mark four weeks since her death.

The 28-year-old mum-of-one was killed in a horrific knife attack at the Chapel Street branch of Tui travel agents on Saturday, January 13.

The results of a post-mortem examination established that her death was caused by “shock and haemorrhaging from a throat injury”.

Now those who knew and loved Cassie will gather at Southport seafront and release balloons on Saturday, Feburary 10, at 1.27pm – exactly four weeks since she died.

Her close friends Sammy Jayne – who first met Cassie eight years ago when she started working at Tui – and Amanda Heyes have arranged the heartwarming tribute.

Sammy said: “As it will be four weeks to the day, we are going to meet on the seafront, which was one of Cass’s favourite spots to go.

“At 1.27pm, we are going to let go (of the balloons).” Cassie’s mum, Tracy, and her sister, Nadine, will be travelling from Newcastle to pay their respects.

Cassie was originally from Northumberland but moved to Southport in 2007 for a relationship.

Anoyone going along is asked to bring a yellow balloon, which was Cassie’s favourite colour.

Sammy added: “We ask everyone who knew Cassie to come along, family, friends, customers past and present, and anyone else who has been touched by the tragic death of Cassie to come and take a moment to remember her for the happy, fun loving person she was.”

Afterwards, everyone is invited to attend a fundraising event which is being held at The Wellington pub, in Eastbank Street.

The event has been arranged by Annie McTaggart, who did not know Cassie personally but has been touched by her story, and all money raised will be put in a trust fund for Cassie’s four-year-old daughter Ruby.

A raffle will be held at the venue, with prizes on offer including a stay in the Lake District, a Liverpool Football Club stadium tour, vouch- ers, and hampers put together by local stores.

Already more than £7,000 has been raised for Cassie’s family though a Gofundme online page set up by the travel agent network Travel Gossip.

Andrew Burke, 30, from St Helens has been charged with murder over the incident.

An inquest into Cassie’s death has been opened and adjourned until the outcome of criminal proceedings.