‘Help me keep my bairn’s memory alive’
Mum launches appeal for new playpark as tribute to tragic road victim Aleisha
An appeal has been launched to replace a condemned play park which was created in memory of a nursery school girl who died in a tragic accident.
Aleisha Ord was knocked down by a bus the day before her fourth birthday 16 years ago.
As her family and community grieved, they turned their attentions to build a play park in her memory, raising £25,000 to build the area, with the official launch led by her sister Amelia on her own fourth birthday.
But now, the park has been so well used it is past its best, with the area closed off to children because it is falling apart.
It is used by up to 140 nursery children each school day and is much loved by those who attend The Ribbon Academy in Murton, where it was moved to from an earlier site when the new school was built.
Her family have launched a fresh campaign to raise at least £15,000 to cover the cost of a new park to honour Aleisha’s memory and give future generations somewhere to have fun with their families and friends.
Aleisha’s mum Michelle, 47, who works as a receptionist at the school, is also mum to Ethan, 13, as well as Amelia, 14, and is married to John, 50.
She says she wants her daughter’s memory “to live on in the laughter of other children.”
Michelle added: “When we lost the bairn, we said we wanted to do something for Aleisha.
“Within a few says we’d raised £800 and when £25,000 came through, we were over the moon.
“It helped keep Aleisha’s memory alive.
“But now it can no longer be repaired and we need something new because it’s been condemned.
The Crowdfunding page set up to gather funds has already raised £895, with Murton Parish Council pledging £5,000 towards the cost.
An initial target of £15,000 has been set, but it is hoped much more than that can be collected to make the park the best it can be.
Michelle said she has already been “overwhelmed by the support and kindness of others” by the initial response to her call, made more poignant Aleisha would have marked her 20th birthday this month.
The Crowdfunding page forthecampaigncanbefound via http://bit.ly/2qVVV4z.
“We said we wanted to do something for Aleisha” MICHELLE ORD